 Previous |
Must we ask the Lord for what we need?
Message
#3 (of 20) from the PrayerPower radio series
In Jesus’ model prayer, His first public teaching on prayer, He taught us clearly that we should ask our heavenly Father for what we need--for our daily bread [Luke 11:3, Matthew 6:11]. He went on to tell His disciples at least nine other times that they should ask. This prayer principle was so ingrained in James, that when he wrote his epistle, he said, "You have not, because you ask not..." [James 3:4, NKJV] I find that a startling statement, that I could have needs that are not being met, simply because I don’t ask. Or worse, that those I love could go without because I fail to pray. Why do you think God waits for us to ask? He knows what we need even better than we know ourselves. Jesus said, "...your Father knows what you need before you ask him." [Matthew 6:8] Why then, must we ask? For one thing, it clarifies our thinking. For another, it shows that we recognize Who has the supply--for everything we need. The provision for our daily physical needs, as well as for wisdom, guidance, comfort, strength, courage, healing, joy, peace...God supplies it all. And when we ask, we are acknowledging our total dependence upon Him. When we fail to ask, the implication is, we don’t need His help, we can manage on our own. Not me.
Pray with me now -- Lord, we do need Your help. We are dependent on You--for everything. Forgive us when we don’t act like it, when we fail to pray. We ask now, in Jesus’ name, amen.
ã 1999 PrayerPower Ministries, P.O. Box
1368, Dallas, TX 75380-1368, 1-800-949-PRAY. |
