Ask Big

O Jerusalem, I have posted watchmen on your walls; they will pray day and night, continually. Take no rest, all you who pray to the LORD. Give the LORD no rest until he completes his work, until he makes Jerusalem the pride of the earth.

Isaiah 62:6-7

HOW MUCH YOU PRAY and what you ask for reveals a lot about your view of God and your relationship with Him. Generally speaking, the more kind and capable you think He is, the more you will want to pray and the more you will pray honestly, boldly, and expectantly. And here’s the thing: God encourages us to keep praying until He answers. He wants us to keep engaging with Him in prayer. As today’s verse suggests, we should “give the LORD no rest” until He answers.

Of course, our requests must be in keeping with God’s will. James 4:3 says, “Even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.” God wisely doesn’t answer yes to selfish prayers that would do us and others harm. He loves us too much to give us what will hurt us. Even so, we can and should ask for what we want. He is able to sort out the good requests from the bad and to gently teach us the difference.

Think of how children ask for what they want. They make honest requests. They unashamedly express their desires. And a good father delights to fulfill his children’s requests whenever he can. Now consider that God is so much more generous than even the best parent (Matthew 7:11). He is not reluctant to bless His children. Our prayer lives should reflect that. As we learn to pray more, we will discover that spending time with God is the greatest blessing of all.

BOTTOM LINE

Prayer is essential to our relationship with God. He wants His children to come to Him for what they need. And what they need most of all is Him.

Moment of Strength: Matthew 7:7-12