Christians: Don´t ask for what is promised!

Often in church gatherings we hear prayers like the following: "Oh Lord, please, please be with Jim and Janet on their journey to wherever." What does Jesus say? "…Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." Matthew 28:20. That scripture is a promise from God.

Or we may hear: "Lord, we ask you to please, please provide the money to meet that big electricity bill." What does the scripture say? "My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory, by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19. Again, what you have just read is a promise from God.

We need to pray in agreement with God´s Word.

Let´s "rewind the tape." In the first instance the prayer should be: "Lord, thank you so much for your great promise that you are with us always. We know that you are, because you have said it. So according to the scripture, you will be with Jim and Janet on their journey. Thank you Lord."

In the second instance the prayer should be: "Heavenly Father, we have this big electricity bill. Right now we cannot pay it, but we are not worried because you say you will supply all our need according to your riches in glory. Thank you Lord. We don´t know how, but we know our need will be met according to your promise."

Do you see the difference in how those two respective prayers are worded? The latter are prayers of belief. We ought to agree with God, quote His word, believe it, and tell Him we are trusting in His promise. It is silly to ask for something promised.

Picture a boy whose Dad has promised him roller skates for his birthday. Will he then continually ask his father, "Dad, are you going to buy me roller skates for my birthday?" Of course not. The boy hears the promise, and he knows his father keeps his word. The boy hears it once, believes it, and asks no more. He then waits confidently for the promise to turn into reality.

That ought to be our attitude in the Christian faith. To ask for something promised is unbelief. It insults God. It puts us on a par with the doubting world around us. Yet we hear continually such prayers of unbelief - even from the church platform.

It is important for us to remember what Jesus said in Mark 11:24: "Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them and ye shall have them." The believing comes before the receiving. We have to pray believing we have already received, even though the thing prayed for is not yet tangible. A promise is a little different. We don´t have to desire it; we simply believe it.

When God makes a promise we can depend on seeing a result of that promise. We should thank Him for the promise, agree with Him, and wait expectantly without doubt for the result.

We need to think, really think, on how we pray to God.