Praying with a Purpose - Asking

"Some things God will not give until we want them enough to ask." , unknown

Sometimes we don't ask God for things or desires because we know He already knows what we need or want.  True, He does know all,  but think about the scriptures where God tells us to ask.

Matthew 6:11 - "Give us this day our daily bread." (asking for daily food)

Jeremiah 33:3 - "Call unto me and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not."  (asking for things that are so mighty we can't even imagine)

Luke 11:9, 10 - "And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."  (ask, seek, knock - don't just wish!)

I've heard many young ladies say "I wish", "I hope", "I'm dreaming"....  God wants us to have hope, wishes, and dreams, but what about faith enough to ask?  Instead of dreaming why don't you write down your dream as a real prayer request.  If it is an honest and good desire, ask God and keep asking!

Samples of some good desires:

1. Improved grades in school.

2. Good Christian friends.

3. Soul winning courage and visitors coming to church.

4. Salvation of lost souls in a particular country or city.

5. Graduating from high school.

6. A college education.

7. A godly marriage to a wonderful Christian man who loves God and desires to do His will.

8. A home.  A house that you can keep beautiful for your husband and family.

9. Good health for your parents and grandparents.

10. Character to spend time with the Lord every day in Bible reading and prayer.

11. Holy Spirit control of your daily life.

I was telling one of my piano students about my beautiful piano and how I enjoy playing it at home.  I saw the desire in her eyes and heard her wish of one day owning a grand piano. What do you think she should do?  Ask God!  You may not need or want a grand piano, first of all you may need a place to put it, but you do have needs and wants.  Ask God! 

Luke 11

¹And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord,teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. ²And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. 

Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. ³Give us day by day our daily bread. ⁴And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

⁵And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; ⁶For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me,and I have nothing to set before him? ⁷And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. ⁸I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. ⁹And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall begiven you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. ¹⁰For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 

"Praying with a Purpose" - Watching

Take time to...
1. Praise God!
2. Wait on the Lord.
3. Confess Sin and remove any barriers between the Lord and ourselves.
4. Claim Scripture promises and apply God's word to our prayer life.

Just adding a few different aspects to our prayers can help our prayer life be more effective.  We spend time with God because we love Him and want to have His world affect our world.  Sometimes our prayers can sound like this...
"Dear Lord,
Thank you for this day.  Please bless the missionaries around the world.  Please help Uncle Bill.  Thank you for your blessings.  Please give me _________, and _______, and _________.  Help me to be a good girl today."
Amen
Today we're going to add another part of prayer - watching.

Jesus specifically told his disciples to "watch and pray"  because "the spirit is weak".  This isn't talking about keep your eyes open during prayer.  It is talking about being aware of distractions, focusing on who needs our prayers, going beyond just our four walls. It is about being aware, awake, and vigilant.  How can we watch and pray?
1. Be aware of current events and situations that need Christian's prayers - people affected by natural disasters, tragedies, droughts, fires, etc.
2. Pray for social needs around the world - hungry people, lonely people, hurting people, people who've lost loved ones
3. Pray for the salvation of people on your street, in your neighborhood, your city, your county, your state, your country
4. Pray for the missionaries in troubled areas of the world - protection and provision, souls saved
Just doing this will get you out of the "me" prayers and make you a part of the vision that God has.  John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world", do you love the world?  Pray for the United States and the world and remember that God loves each individual.  I always feel that my problems seem to diminish after this part of prayer.
II Chronicles 7:14
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.