Question for Christians...help with prayer?

Question

How would you suggest going to God in prayer asking for a want and not a need. I know God is not a genie that grants wishes but there is something I would like to have in particular but don't want to approach God and look selfish. How do I pray for this "want" and still seek Gods will be done?

Answer 1

God hears all the prayers of the righteous.

Prayers are not answered for two reasons. The first is that you are not abiding in the Lord.

Joh 15:7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. (ESV Translation)

The word "abide" is really important. It means to "be at home in."
"I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.," said the psalmist (see Psa_119:11)—not in his head, but in his heart.

This is the problem with most of our prayers. Jas_4:2-3 says,
Jas 4:2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.
Jas 4:3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

"If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me," declared the psalmist (Psa_66:18). Why? Because God won't allow us to live in sin that will hurt both us and those around us. Consequently, He says, "I'm going to break communication with you not because I'm angry with you or because I'm giving up on you, but because something's amiss within you that will bring pain into your life and problems into the lives of those around you. So when your prayers aren't being answered or when the Word doesn't seem to speak to you, call upon Me. Let Me come in and cleanse your temple. And then I will teach. Then you will hear My voice. Then you will see My face." I think too many of us minimize the importance of quietly waiting on the Lord and asking Him to search our hearts. Before teaching, there must be cleansing.

We have a tendency to think our prayers are answered in direct proportion to how many times we've been in church, how many times we've had devotions, how many times we've given offering. But nothing is further from the truth. Prayer is not based upon merit. It's based upon mercy.

From John 15:16, we learn that the secret of life is bearing fruit that God may be glorified, not for our own satisfaction, but in order that others might be nourished from the fruit produced in, through, and often, in spite of us! Focus on yourself, and you'll be miserable. Be a lover of God and of people. Get your eyes off your problems and pains, your tears and fears. Look for ways to refresh, satisfy, and bless others—and you'll find the secret of life itself.

From Ga 5:22-23 we learn more three things about what abiding in Christ means.

First, there is production of fruit. "I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing" (Joh_15:5).

Second, there is correction from the Father. "Every branch in me that bears not fruit he takes away: and every branch that bears fruit, he purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit (Joh_15:2).

Some say the purging spoken of here means pruning. Others say "to purge" means "to clean" (Joh_15:3). You see, when a vine was prolific, the branches would become weighed down with an abundance of fruit. Add a rainy season to the picture, and the result would be muddy grapes. Thus, the vinedresser would wash the branches periodically in order that the fruit would remain pure.

What does it mean to be purged? Does it mean to be pruned—or does it mean to be washed? I think it means both. You see, the Lord will cleanse you as you study the Word corporately on Sundays and Wednesdays, intimately in your quiet times with Him, and practically through small-group study with other believers. And He will prune you through trials and difficulties, dark days and hard times.

God is so in love with you, He is committed to teaching you—one way or the other. Let me suggest that you choose to be washed by the water of the Word rather than trimmed by the trials of the world!

Lastly, the third mark of an abiding believer is fruition in prayer. "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you " (Joh_15:7). Answered prayers are indicative of an abiding heart. If your prayers are not being answered, it means you're not in harmony with the heart of God.

You'll understand the heart, nature, and character of Jesus if you're abiding in Him. Consequently, your prayers will be in line with His desires.

In other words, our prayer requests are out of line. When we're not in the Word, we don't know how to pray. Prayer and the Word go hand in hand. As I am in the Word, His words abide in me, and it is then that I know how to pray and for what to ask.

But consider the following:

A Christian hunter is hunting bears in the woods. While walking up a hill he grabs a branch for leverage and it breaks sending the hunter tumbling down the hill, gun flying off elsewhere. When the hunter dusts himself off he sees a huge bear charging him. The hunter begins running, but trips and falls, landing on his knees. Seizing the opportunity, and being a good Christian, the hunter begins to pray, "Lord, make this bear a Christian."

The woods are quiet, the hunter turns and, Hallelujah! He sees the bear on his knees, paws together, praying! Listening, he hears the bear praying, "Father, bless this food to my body."

The key message here is that God answers prayers of the righteous, but the answer you get may not be the answer you want, but it will always be the right answer. Prayer is a coming to God, telling Him your need (or the need of others), committing your way unto the Lord, and then leaving God to deal with the case as seems best to Him.

How should one pray to God?

I speak to God in the same manner as I write these words to you now. That is, I have a plain conversation (no “thou’s” “thine’s”, “thy’s”!) with Him each day, especially out under the stars late at night as my family sleeps. My prayers are conversations that follow a pattern. I start every prayer with the following: "Most merciful God, not my will, but yours, be done." I repeat that phrase often during my prayers. Sometimes I will do so for tens of times just to quiet my mind and make it open to hearing from my Creator.

Use the following pattern in all your prayers and you will see them answered: Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. See the links below for more information. (acronym: ACTS)

http://www.prayerguide.org.uk/actsmodel.htm
http://www.powertopray.com/howto/ACTS.html

Answer 2

Well, if you read the Bible, this is not a slam but rather a double check what I tell you or any one else, you will see how God views prayer requests.

First, God knows before you even ask, so be open, be honest, and be sincere. If you believe you are being selfish God knows it. Paul asked several times to remove a pain in his side, a selfish prayer, yet God denied him this request.

Second, God wishes to bless you and give you good gifts. I am sure your parents gave you things that you did not need and could be seen as selfish. But, again as good parents they probably denied you requests too for their own reasons you could not fathom at the time.

Do not fast for this request as it is as you say a selfish one. Do not barter to do good will or any thing like this as it is your duty as a Christian to be doing so already. Do not ask friends to join you in this prayer for the same reason as fasting. Ask once unless you feel open to do so again.

Finally, none of us truly know the rhyme and reason of God's answers to prayer. It is often very frustrating for both believers and non believers alike. Remember, he is God and his reasons are his own and you should accept the answer what ever it might be.

Answer 3

Take a look at the way Jesus prays in the Bible.
Matthew 26:39
And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
Pray for what you want and what you need but also include the possibility that you don't know what is best.
We plan and God laughs.
Realize that God always answers prayer. It is just that many people are not open to hear Him say no. I have heard a clear no from God. That is when you ask God to help you do without. God is big enough for all our needs. He is also small enough that he knows how many hairs are on our heads and he notices when a sparrow falls to the ground. Never think that what you want and dream about is to small for God. Talk to him as you would a friend. Tell him when your angry or when you really want that new car. Just be open to the possibility that it isn't going to happen and pray for God's will don't just seek it.

Answer 4

God knows your heart talk to Him in the spirit and ask Him if you can have what your wanting remember though that sometimes we dont really want what we ask for only think we do and He knows what is best for us,He is your Father and talk to Him the same as you would your dad or brother it is not a selfish act we all want things

Answer 5

God knows before you ask. Keep this in mind and ask Him. He is a cheerful giver. No He is not a genie, or a wishing well, but God desires that we come to Him in honesty and humbled. Ask and in faith and ye shall recieve. God Bless You.

Answer 6

Ya know that is such a humble request. I have too done this, and I too have felt like I am being selfish so I never worded it in such a way to sound selfish ( God knows our hearts either way! lol)
But He knows why you want it, and he knows you are not wanting to be selfish, so please just continue to come to him humbly and ask. I always ask "If it be according to your will..." then I continue.
I want His will definately! I mean think about if you did get what you wanted and it turned out bad. God knows what we need and he does know the desires of our hearts. So just pray and ask with a humble heart, that it be according to His will.

Answer 7

The next time you talk to Him let Him know what it is you desire. You know it's not something you need, but it's something you would like to have. Ask Him if it would be alright if He let you have it, but above all else let His will be done in the matter and that you will accept His judgement on it. It's not silly to want something, so long as it goes along with the will of God, you will likely get it. Who knows, but He? Ask anyway no matter how silly it might seem, it might be a big deal later.

Answer 8

GOD knows what you want the same way we know what our kids want. If it is not harmful to them we will usually find a way to present them with the thing. Many times we will make a big deal out of it to try to teach our children to be thankful for what we provide for them.
So being as GOD already knows and you know he is both Dad and Lord then just walk up and say "Hey Dad?"

Answer 9

just how you said.
are you sincere? do you love Him? He knows one way or the other. If you truly think this is a want that is within His will for your life, then ask away. Thank Him for what you have, ask for what you want, seek His will in it.... and then wait. He may ask you to continue to pray for awhile, maybe even years.... but He will give you your want when it's time. Or He might say no.
Either way - you need to accept what He says.

blessings :)

Answer 10

Don't be afraid 2 ask God 4 anything, if you're living your life right and trying to obey his commands. The Bible says "ask and you will receive", just believe when you pray :) God Bless

Answer 11

Keep in mind that God loves to bless His kids. As an adopted child of His, you have the right to go to Him with your wants as well as your needs. He may or may not say "Yes," but you have the right to approach Him, just as any child approaches their Dad with their wants.

Here's an encouragement from the Psalms: "Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart." (37:4)