My fellow Christians: I really need your help.?

Question

I am utterly confused.
There are verses in the Bible that say if you want something, all you have to do is ask God. For instance, Philippians 4:19, "My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." and "Ask and it will be given to you. Seek and it will be awarded to you. Knock and the door will be open." Others say that you have to work for it or that you have to wait a while. While some [verses] say that if you ask for something in faith, you will get it (somewhere in Hebrews).

So I'm confused. What is the whole basic idea you have to do if you want something really bad?

Answer 1

1 john 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

This is very important to know, because many Christians live practicing some forms of sin,, and then think God will answer their prayers the way they want.

God knows our heart, and everything we do, there are no secrets. If you are having problems with some sin, confess it, and ask for help overcoming it. Not that we won't fall at times, but God knows when we are doing our best for him.

Also, we don't get everything we ask for. God knows what is good for us. Pray and believe God will do his best for you. He could very well be testing you, to see how you will act. I trust the Lord to do what is best for me, and am happy with whatever he does, or doesn't do.

Trust, trust, trust, and be a happy Christian knowing God is good.

Answer 2

God does not have to answer all our requests. As an all knowing God, he knows us, and others, and the future WAY better than we ever can. I know many that say, thank God, that he didn't answer the way they asked for this or that, or it would have been disasterous! All the while, they wanted it SO bad. They couldn't see till they had hindsight. One of the verses you mentioned, uses the word need, not want. We have what we need, usually, and if we don't, do in fact pray, in faith, and keep on praying. I don't know of the others that say work for it, and wait awhile. God is not bound by our prayers, but his power can be unleashed through them. So, don't be confused, and get your wants and needs sorted out. Be patient, even if it is hard. Pray for wisdom above all, God promises to give it if we ask. Isn't that awesome?

Answer 3

Well, the way to get something you wanted, is to work towards it. Sometimes one can get lucky. But you can't count on luck all your life. A successful life, will only result with enough work put towards it. In due course luck will run out. You can't always expect miracles (luck) to happen.

Originally praying is something that was introduced to get confidence and focus about the subject you're praying for. Which means subconsciously the more you pray, the more you think about it, the more you analyze it, the more meaning you get about the subject you're praying about, and the more you strive to learn about it and so on. So praying is an indirect way of building confidence in what you want to achieve. When you believe that God will help you, you will also put in enough work towards it to make it a reality. That why they say, "God helps, those you help themselves". Words in the bible, should not be taken literally. Just like Jesus, told thing in parables. You should try to understand the meaning behind it.

Answer 4

God does answer prayer sometimes with what you ask and sometimes with a "no". but if you are praying for a new sport scar, then you are in the wrong. What about what God requires of us. Do you go into all the world and preach the gospel . OK what about the people you see everyday. What about helping the poor, feeding the hungry, loving your neighbor. How can we ask God for things when we do not do what he asks us. The world around us is sinking into deaths grip and many will end up in hell are we doing all we can to prevent this? I ask myself these things daily. Think about it. on judgment day when you are walking into heaven and you see a friend you saw daily and he asks you why didn't you tell me how to save myself. ouch. what, because i was afraid that you would get offended. we have a job to do Christians.

Answer 5

Basicly, you must find out what sin is.

1Jo 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Most people believe that the Law that God gave moses to give to Israel was only for the Jews and that they think that God only wants us to keep some of the commandments and not all of them. Read Levi 23. Notice the words Forever in your generations. This means me you and evry one else. So once you start to do what the Father tells you to do only than will He know and answer your prayers. Might not like it. But than that is your problem and no ones elses. And believe me, it is a proble to be out of Gods plan.

Answer 6

This is something a lot of Christians and non-christians don't understand about prayer. praying "in faith" means that what you ask is based upon your desire to be closer to God, to know God more. Everytime you ask this of God does he not answer? It is not God's will to grant us the meaningless things that people pray for like a raise at thier job, an A on a test, or a new car. Whatever you ask in faith you shall recieve means that when you ask something of Him that brings you closer to Him, you will never be denied. Never. Your faith is what God wants to strengthen and make grow, not your earthly pleasures or concerns.

Answer 7

Well, those all work together. For instance, you want to pass a big exam. You dont just study five minutes and on the day of the test pray with all the faith you have for God to help you. You need to do your part and then ask God to help you remember what you studied.

Answer 8

Do you remember the Prayer of Jabez fad from a few years ago? It was based on this verse:

1Chr. 4:10 Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from hurt and harm!” And God granted what he asked.

This was interpreted to mean that God wants everyone to have more stuff and that God is a sort of spiritual ATM: punch in your request and out comes money (or land or girlfriends or jobs). It just doesn't work that way

God promises to help us with our needs. The lilies of the field don't work for their sustenance and God provides, right? But obviously, we must work for our food. Does this mean God doesn't provide food? Hardly. It means God may have provided us with the work that brought the food!

One of the most powerful prayers we can offer up is the prayer that we might recognize our needs over our wants, and that we be filled with faith that God will recognize our needs.

God never gave me a pony when I was a kid. God always provided me with unconditional love--and that's something I always needed.

Answer 9

When asking something of God we need to be in the will of God.Here we will not ask for things to benefit ourselves unless they will bring honor and glory to God.There was a time in my life that I thought more highly of myself than I did God.I had my own construction company with 15 men working for me. I broke my neck in 1998. I wasn't in good hands with Allstate and the lawyers they tell you about, aren't there to help you.It's a long story but about a year later I came to know Jesus and was Born Again. Me braking my neck would have never been something I would have prayed for, but it's what brought me to Jesus. I don't in the least expect you to understand this, But thank God for my broken neck that brought me to God because all I ever asked Him for was more money which was only leading me and my family away from Him.

Answer 10

Very good question. I've seen a lot of debate on this.

Our church preaches that it is not money that is evil, it is the LOVE of money that is evil.

In other words, make a comfortable living for yourself, but don't forget to give to the less fortunate.

I've seen churches that preach that you MUST get as RICH as possible, because God WANTS you to be rich. If you aren't RICH RICH RICH, there's something wrong with you or your faith. I think that that logic is very dangerous and wrong.