Believe When Asking in Prayer

Today we will look at the A in our acronym, PRAY.  To review, P stands for praise, R is for repent, A is for ask, and Y is for yield.  We often find ourselves at a point in our lives where we need to ask God for something, whether it’s for others or ourselves.  Our Bible Journaling verse today says, “And if you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”  As we look at this verse, it seems to me that a key component of asking is to believe we will receive what we are asking for.  We must also ask in accordance with God’s will for our lives.

As a little background on this verse, Jesus and the disciples passed by a fig tree, and Jesus was hungry.  When he went to get a fig, the tree was full of leaves but no figs.  He cursed the fig tree so that it would never again grow figs.  He explained to the disciples that if they ask anything in His name and with faith, they could tell mountains to move, and the mountains would move.  As Believers, we have this authority in prayer.  Sadly, many do not utilize the authority given to them by God.

One component is asking according to His Will.  He will not give us something that is against His Will.  As I looked at commentaries, David Guzik, on the Enduring Word website, quotes F.B. Meyer’s commentary. “We can only believe for a thing when we are in such union with God that his thought and purpose can freely flow into us, suggesting what we should pray for, and leading us to that point in which there is a perfect sympathy and understanding between us and the divine mind. Faith is always the product of such a frame as this.” (Meyer) So, we must pray according to God’s will and have faith that He will do what we ask. 

J. Vernon McGee, in his commentary, says, “I feel that there is something bigger and more important to do than mountain moving and fig tree cursing. To preach the gospel of Christ, to give out the Word of God so that the Spirit of God can use it—that, my friend, is a miracle! When these lips of clay can say something that the Spirit of God can use to transform a life, that involves the kind of faith that I want. What we need is faith to believe that God can and will use His Word.”

There are three answers God gives us when we ask, “Yes,” “No,” and “Wait.” The “Yes” answer is easy for us, that is what we long for.  “No” is more difficult for us to take.  When He says “No”, we must look at whether our request is in His Will, or if it truly would be a good thing for us.  There have been times when I asked for something and God said “No,” and at the time I didn’t understand.  But, as I look back, it’s a good thing He said, “NO.”  I had faith that He would give me what I asked for, but it wasn’t in line with His Will.  He had a bigger plan in mind for my life.  Then there are the times when He says, “Wait.”  For me, that is the hardest answer.  I’m not good at being patient.  Waiting is so hard for me.  God isn’t saying “No”, He’s saying, “Not right now.”  We need to be strong in our faith as we wait on God’s timing.

We should not be timid in asking God for things, resolution to circumstances, or praying in intercession for others.  The Bible says, “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” (1 John 5:14 NASB)  We can not only have confidence that hears us but that He will answer.  “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7 NASB)  God wants us to come to Him and ask for the desires of our hearts. (Psalm 37:4) Come in faith, believing, and asking for His Will, and He will answer.