How to Ask and Receive from God

“Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?” – Romans 8:32

In the race of life, man is faced with challenging situations which stare at him and some rhetorical questions pop up from the mind.

Why are there so many prayers that are never answered? Why are many of God’s promises never fulfilled in the lives of people? Is God a man that He should lie to or the son of man that He should repent?

According to our text, we see that God is willing to give us all things. However, why is it that we don’t have everything we want?

The truth is, for us to ask and receive from God, there are principles to be followed. If we violate those principles, we run the risk of never receiving answers to our prayers.

In this discourse, here are three basic principles to observe to receive answers to your prayers.

• Ask in Jesus’ name: If you have a request for something, not only should you ask God, but you have to do the asking in the name of Jesus. Many people keep their mouths mute when there are pressing issues in their lives that urgently demand God’s intervention. Such people usually think God is a mind reader who should have read their minds to know what they are going through and suddenly intervene. Even though God sees and knows what you are going through, He may not jump into your case without your invitation. You have to call on God for Him to intervene. Don’t substitute grumbling for asking. When asking, open your mouth and mind to God; then, He will answer you (Matthew 7:7-11; James 4:2-3).

However, asking in another person’s name other than Jesus is like delivering your letter to the wrong address — will arrive at the wrong destination and is likely not to be opened. If you ever want to receive answers to your prayers, then you have to approach God in prayers using the name of Jesus (John 14:13–14; John 16:23–24).

• Ask in faith: Faith is the channel of receiving from God. When it comes to asking and receiving from God, faith is the medium of exchange. If you express your faith in prayer, then be rest assured that God would grant your requests. Many of the children of Israel who perished in the wilderness were people who lacked faith in God. As such, God was displeased with them (Hebrews 3:17-19; Psalm 78:18-19; Psalm 78:18-19, 29-31; Hebrews 11:6, Mark 11:22-26, James 1:6-7).

• Ask according to God’s will: Even though you have faith in God and ask for something in the name of Jesus if what you are asking for is against the will of God, He is not obliged to answer you. God only answers prayers within the center of His own will. Learn to submit your prayers to the will of God (1 John 5:14; Matthew 26:39,42; Ephesians 1:11).

Conclusion

You can receive anything from God, no matter how small or big it is. However, you must have faith in God, ask in the name of Jesus, and ask according to the will of God. God is always willing to answer the prayers of His children.