What if you really do know and understand what you are asking God for? Or at least on the human plane, as much as you are able, what if you know and still ask? Let’s just say you have thought it out, you’ve entertained the possibilities and have decided to ask God anyway. What if you ask in complete confidence having the understanding that it is not opposed to the known will of God. What then? What if He says yes? What if He allows the desires of your heart to come to pass?
It has been done before. People have asked God in innocence and purity of heart for their desires. Others with great passion or deep distress have poured out before the Lord. Even with full understanding of God’s Word and knowing the instruction of His prophets some have asked for His intervention and provision.
Hannah asked the Lord for a child. He gave her a beautiful boy with a wonderful servants heart, great skill in listening to and understanding the Lord, tremendous wisdom and a prophetically minded heart excelling all around. Then He gave her five more children beside. So that’s one for the Lord and five for Hannah. Five just happens to be the number of Grace found in the bible. She was honored and greatly blessed because she had the wisdom to ask of the Lord without fear.
Solomon asked God for great wisdom. God’s response was to give Solomon not only the greatness he asked for but also blessed him with riches above what any king had ever known. He received what he asked the Lord for. Then the Lord said “Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honor, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.
Zechariah instructed Israel to”Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain”. Then he explained that the Lord would not only answer their request faithfully but would exceed it according to His great love and riches. “So the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.”
Paul instructed Timothy that “men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting”. James said that the believer should “ask in faith, nothing wavering”. Jesus told His disciples “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. “ In first John the believers are reminded “whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. “
It seems that the instruction from scriptures and the testimony of those who obeyed those commands bear out the truth that God desires for His children to ask for His blessings. The Psalmist declares that the Lord will give the obedient the desires of their heart. Isaiah said “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land”.
So what then? Can anyone receive prosperity from the Lord simply by asking? Does God intend for everyone? Or is there another caveat? Are there requirements beyond just believing you can get it because you ask for it?
For God’s chosen people who obediently walk in His ways and are living lives pleasing in His sight, it is not imaginable that they would ask anything contrary to His will. Being prompted by God the Holy Spirit dwelling within, they ask according to the good pleasure of His desires. According to Jesus Himself it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. It is not that believers ask for their own glory or enrichment. It is not that temporal blessings are the goal of those asking blessings of the Father. The effectual fervent prayer of the righteous is that God would glorify Himself in using them for His great pleasure, in the place which pleases Him.
So having said all of that, let me address the question again. What if you really do know and understand what you are asking God for? Or at least on the human plane, as much as you are able, what if you know and still ask? God is not obligated to anyone for anything. He is God and we are not. Still, He will not violate His word nor will He do evil. He molds us and trains us and allows us to experience the things in our lives which draw us to a closer relationship with Him so that He might show Himself merciful and gracious. He answers every prayer yes, no or wait. And sometimes He also says “You know not what you ask for.
If we ask to be used for His glory and He says yes when we ask for a particular ministry or influence or whatever, then we must rest assured that in His good pleasure He knows it is right. He has orchestrated the circumstances in our lives and prompted our responses so that we are prepared for the situation we desire to be in. It is right for us to ask. It is right for Him to answer yes.
Ask not that He will bless you. Ask that He will use you for His pleasure and THAT will bless you!