Day 3: Believe, Ask and Receive
Intention
We tend to complicate prayer but to God, it’s simple: believe, ask and receive.
Scripture
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him.”—Matthew 7:7-11
Reflection
All of us can think of unanswered prayers in our lives: requests we’ve put to God which he never answered or is yet to answer.
While it is important for us to face the reality of unanswered prayer, this should not be our starting point. When talking about prayer, Jesus almost always presented it as a very simple, straightforward practice: believe, ask and receive.
If you were to tally up all of your prayers into two categories, ‘answered’ and ‘unanswered’, the list of prayers that God has answered in your life would almost certainly be longer. It may be exponentially longer.
The reason that unanswered prayers linger in our thoughts more is not because there are more of them, but because they trouble us like a pebble in our shoe until they are resolved.
Truly, God is good to us. Thousands of times you have asked, sought and knocked, and God has opened the door.
God knows how to give good gifts and your life is full of them if you take the time to notice them all. Gratitude is a powerful weapon. It gives us exactly the perspective we need when approaching God for future prayer requests.
As you pray this month, remind yourself of the many, countless gifts God has given you; the many prayers he has answered in your life so far. And pray with a heart full of faith that he will also hear your present requests.
He is a good Father. He is listening. Get ready to see him move.
Prayer
Father, thank you that you are always present, ready to hear my prayers and respond. I admit that I don’t always understand the how and why of prayer. But I know you have been faithful to me in the past, and I am confident you will be faithful always. I believe.
Help my unbelief. Today I bring my requests before you in full faith that you will hear and answer.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.
31 Days Prayer Points
- Pray for the restoration of FAMILY, FATHERHOOD and MOTHERHOOD in our nation. Malachi 4:6
- Pray for healing for MARRIAGES, protection for CHILDREN and restoration of the sanctity of LIFE. Isaiah 58:12
- Pray for Revival, Renewal and Reformation for Australia, that our nation might return to God. 2 Chronicles 7:14
We invite you to support this month-long Prayer & Fasting campaign to raise up prayer for Family and Nation. Every donation to the Canberra Declaration helps us spread the word and make a stand for Family, Faith, Freedom and Life.
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