What Do You Need?
“Ask, and God will give to you. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will open for you. Yes, everyone who asks will receive. Everyone who searches will find. And everyone who knocks will have the door opened. If your children ask for bread, which of you would give them a stone? Or if your children ask for a fish, would you give them a snake? Even though you are bad, you know how to give good gifts to your children. How much more your heavenly Father will give good things to those who ask him!” — Matthew 7:7-12
What do you need? Whatever it may be, we can seek God for it. He provides us with everything we need and all He wants us to do is ask. It is that simple. However, we cannot forget that God is not a genie. He will not grant our every wish. There are reasons why God will not answer a person’s prayer. He will not listen to a person who has not confessed their sins or if their request is not in His will (Psalm 66:18, 1 John 5:14).
When these conditions are met, a Christian can go to God faithfully, sincerely and with confidence knowing He will answer their prayers. We have this reassurance based on His character (2 Timothy 2:13). God is like earthly parents in the way they provide for their children. They would neither deceive their hungry children nor give them anything that might inflict pain. Furthermore, if human parents reward their children's requests with what is best for them, then how much more will our Father in heaven do the same.
Here are some Bible verses to turn to when we need the reassurance that God will provide us with what we need:
“You, Lord, give true peace to those who depend on You, because they trust You.” – Isaiah 26:3
“My God will use his wonderful riches in Christ Jesus to give you everything you need.” – Philippians 4:19
“Most importantly, love each other deeply, because love will cause people to forgive each other for many sins.” – 1 Peter 4:8
Prayer of the day:
Dear heavenly Father,
When we are in need, You are the one who provides for us. You are the way for us to find what we are looking for. Please remind us that You’re not a genie and will not grant our every wish, but will provide us with what we need. Give us the wisdom to know what we need so we know what to pray for when we ask. We want to pray for what we need if it is in Your will and not in ours. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen!
