Supplication

Luke 11:9,10 “And I say unto you, ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” Jesus also says in John 16:24 “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name; ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” God had already said in Jeremiah 33:3 “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”

What do I ask the Lord for, and how do I ask? Do I ask to be wise? Do I ask that the fruit of the Holy Spirit be in me and manifest from me: my character, my essence, my life and my supply? Is my prayer from frustration or anxiety, or by faith and by hope? Am I praying in reaction to the details of life, or am I praying in response to the words of my loving God?

God has said “Ask of me.” throughout His scripture. Many times He has told me what to ask for: making it so simple for this child. When I pray am I asking as one loved? Or do I ask as one unloved? And do I pray as one of whom Psalm 23 is already real and true: abundantly provided for and made secure? The prayers I pray reveal the answer to these questions.

I need to know when I pray if I am praying from and by faith in what God has said, or whether my prayers arise from unbelief and the circumstances in my life that make that unbelief manifest. I need to know because I am speaking to my Heavenly Father who is faithful, and who deserves prayers of faith. And then, do I let God answer my prayers, or do I impose upon Him those conditions that I am ready to accept?

I will seek His kingdom and His righteousness in my prayer, because all those other things will be added unto me. The added things are His occupation, not mine. My Father knows what I need, He knows what I want, and He knows which of the two to give. In His grace and kindness sometimes I am given those things I want but do not need. I will trust Him for this.

I have the privilege of joining God in His desires by asking Him to fulfil those very desires. These are childlike prayers, and that is good because I am a child. “Father, I pray that you would save ______ .” He already desires to save that person, so I join in gladly and He is pleased with that.

I am a weak man, so when I pray in response to the world I pray when I am troubled. But when I pray in response to God’s word, my prayer is full of life: free, and full of joy. I may pray about trouble, but I pray with God in peace.

When I say, “Thy will be done.” is it with resignation or with eager expectation? If it has been resignation, now I choose for it to be the glad trust of a child with a wonderful Father. There came a day in the midst of chemotherapy for leukemia in which I prayed with God at peace. That was a glorious day, and a prayer I will be thankful for all the days of my life. God led me to that prayer. I could not have found it on my own.

God has helped me to pray. He is helping me now. I look forward to speaking with my Father all of my life. Thank you Jesus.