Whatever we ask we receive from Him

Our heavenly Father is good, and Jesus Christ gives us a great example of this when He teaches that no earthly father, if his son asks him for something good, would give him a stone. If imperfect human fathers know how to give good gifts, how much more will our perfect heavenly Father give to His children. Dear friends, we serve a good God, a God who brings down rain on the good and the bad, who makes the earth produce fruit for everyone. Our God does not look at our condition to bless us. In other words, we do not have to be good in order to receive the blessing of God, because if that were the requirement, no one in this world would ever be blessed, since there is only one truly good, and that is our beloved Creator.

Many passages of the Bible tell us that we must approach God with confidence, and that if we ask according to His will, He will give us what we desire. The Scriptures say that everything we ask in prayer will be granted, but we must be careful not to ask wrongly. James teaches that the church often asked but did not receive because they asked with wrong motives, seeking only their own pleasures. This is why it is so important to know God’s will, which is always perfect, pleasing, and good, so that our prayers align with His heart and not merely our wants.

John said in his first letter:

21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God

22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him.

23 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.

1 John 3:21-23

This confidence that we have in God can not be a superficial emotion. It must grow out of a life that perseveres in His commandments, that remains firm in the grace that has been given to us, and that consistently seeks to do the things that are pleasing in His sight. Loving our neighbor, walking in obedience, and keeping our lives aligned with the Word of God produce in us a heart that prays according to His will. And when our desires are shaped by His truth, God answers our petitions, because everyone who walks according to His commandments asks for things that reflect His purposes.

Another truth we must keep firmly in mind is to maintain that spark of genuine faith in Jesus Christ. We must believe with all our hearts that God raised Him from the dead, that He lives and reigns forever, and that one glorious day He will return for His beloved church. This hope should fuel our prayers, shape our desires, and strengthen our confidence. When we pray believing in Christ, when we place our trust completely in His name and in His perfect work, then our requests are made from a heart that truly belongs to Him.

Let us hold firmly to this confidence. Let us approach our heavenly Father with assurance, knowing that He delights in hearing the prayers of His children. May we always ask according to His will, believing that His plans are higher and wiser than ours. And above all, may our faith in Jesus Christ continue to burn brightly, guiding us, sustaining us, and anchoring us in the unchanging love of God.