IN ORDER TO RECEIVE YOU NEED TO ASK GOD

The Bible says, “You don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.” James 4:2 NLT

Jesus told His disciples,

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for.” Matthew 7:7 NLT

And,

“You didn’t choose Me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using My name.” John 15:16 NLT

“I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and He will grant your request because you use My name.  You haven’t done this before. Ask, using My name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.” John 16:23-24 NLT

That apostle Paul also taught the people to, “Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.” Philippians 4:6 NLT

In other words, God wants us to ask Him for anything that pleases Him – no sinful and selfish things! ANYTHING, as the following scriptures confirm:

“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.  But when you ask Him, be sure that your faith is in God alone.” James 1:5-6 NLT

“And we are confident that He hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases Him.  And since we know He hears us when we make our requests, we also know that He will give us what we ask for.” 1. John 5:14-15 NLT

GOD DOES NOT GIVE WHAT YOU DESIRE, BUT WHAT HE DESIRES!

Scores of Christians falsely believe that God gives them all the desires of their hearts. They base this on the Old Testament passage in Psalms where it says, “Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires.” Psalm 37:4 NLT

But to shed more light on the above verse, the Bible says in the New Testament: “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.” Philippians 2:13 NLT

In other words, it is God who is working in you to give you the desire that is “His Desire” and the power to do what He wants. So, it is never about what you want, but what He predestined for you to accomplish for His glory’s sake! His desire becomes your desire, and that’s why you will always have the power - meaning His favor and blessing - to do whatever He desires for your life!

We can now also understand when David writes to, “Commit everything you do to the Lord.
Trust Him, and He will help you.” Psalm 37:5 NLT. This means, our desire must align with God’s desire, not the other way around!

That is why it also says, “And we are confident that He hears us whenever we ask for anything that PLEASES HIM! And since we know He hears us when we make our requests, we also know that He will give us what we ask for.” 1. John 5:14-15 NLT

To sum it up:

God only does and gives us what He desires for us, only that what pleases Him! 

Even Jesus Christ, our great example, prayed before He was about to be crucified, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from Me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Matthew 26:39 NLT. He did what the Father wanted!