II Kings 3:18 And this is but a light thing in the sight of the LORD: he will deliver the Moabites also into your hand.

The kings of Judah, Israel, and Edom came to Elisha and asked them about how they were to get to Moab so that they could attack it. Moab was in rebellion but the journey was too long and the water was limited. Elisha told these kings to have their men dig ditches in the wilderness and God would fill those ditches with water. The kings would not see any wind nor would they see any rain, God would just fill the ditches with water.

It is important to understand that God can do the impossible. In this case, God did not do the impossible because the kings of Israel and Edom were righteous. God did this miracle so that these kings would realize that God was alive and active. After Elisha had told the kings what God was going to do, Elisha reminded these kings that this was not a difficult matter.

The God of Elisha had parted both the Red Sea and the Jordan River so that people walked across on dry land. The God of Elisha had used a small army of three hundred men to defeat the Midianites. The God of Elisha had brought fire out of heaven. There are many impossible things that God had done for the nation of Israel, yet the current king of Israel did that which was right in his own eyes.

The unrighteous kings of Israel and Edom were willing to test God to see if HE would give them direction. Not only was God willing to give them direction, but HE was also willing to provide and protect them. Nothing is impossible for the God who created the universe.

What is the problem that you are facing that you believe is too hard for the God who created the universe? What is the thing that you really desire but you feel that God does not care about what you desire. There are times when God choose to let you learn patience by waiting a prolonged period of time. However, there are many things that God has simply not given us because we have refused to ask HIM to provide them for us. We have not because we ask not.

Would the wicked kings of Israel and Edom have seen God bring them water in the wilderness if they had not decided to first go to Elisha to hear from God? Absolutely not. Because they were willing to humble themselves, they saw God show HIMSELF real to them in a way that they did not anticipate.

It is important for us to understand that nothing is too hard for God. Is there a job that you desire, this is a light thing in the hands of God. Is there a relationship that you desire to be mended, this is a light thing in the hands of God. Is there a financial crisis that you face, this is a light thing in the hands of God.

Nothing is too difficult for the God who created you. The God that you serve was able to open the womb of Sarah, Rebekah, Ruth, Hannah, and Elisabeth. The God that you serve was able to cause a bush to be on fire without it burning up. The God that you serve was able to cause a fleece to be dry while the ground was wet. There is nothing that is too difficult for God.

You must learn to take the time to understand the will of God for your life. If you understand what God desires to do in your life, then you will be in a position that you are able to ask God to give you those things HE desires to give unto you. Be patient with God and understand HIS will.

II Kings 2:19 And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray three, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is naught, and the ground barren.

Elisha was in Jericho and he was approached by a man who described the city as being pleasant but the water not being very bad. This man asked Elisha to do something about the problem. Scripture does not tell us how long this problem had existed, but we know that once one man asked, the problem was solved.

It is interesting to note that Jericho was one of the cities where the sons of the prophets lived. Elijah had visited this city and yet the problem was never taken care earlier. For many years the inhabitants of the city of Jericho lived with their bad water. All it took was one person to become discontent with their situation and God brought the solution through Elisha.

How often do we miss out on the blessings that God has for us because we are so content with our situation that we fail to ask God? Scripture tells us that we have not because we ask not. Satan loves to persuade us into believing that God does not care.

What is something that is going on in your life that you wish would change? How is it affecting your life? How is it diminishing your ability to fulfill God’s purpose for your life? Have you spent the time asking God to change your circumstances? Have you taken the time to plead with God to bless you?

One man out of an entire city finally asked the Lord to solve the problem of the bad water and God immediately brought a solution. How many individuals could have asked Elisha or Elijah to take care of their bad water but only one had the blessing of asking and receiving.

There are multiple example throughout scripture of people who asked and they received the desire of their heart. However, what makes some of these stores interesting is those who could have asked sooner but did not. The lame man that Peter and John heeled at the temple gate had been sitting there for many years. Why this man never asked Jesus to heal him we will never know.

God cared about the inhabitants of Jericho. God had created the earth and HE allowed the water in Jericho to become bad. God created water and HE could change bad water into good water. God desired for the inhabitants of Jericho to realize that God was still alive and powerful, all it took was one individual to ask.

Many of us have asked for things that God has not yet given us. Maybe we have even asked for good things that God promised us that we could have. God has a lesson in patience as we have to learn to be persistent in our prayers to see the fulfillment of HIS promises. However, many times we pretend to spiritual by not asking God to change our circumstances. How many blessings have we missed out on because we did not want to ask God to change our lives for the better?

When Jesus taught us how to pray in the Sermon on the Mount, one of the key elements of our prayer life needs to be asking that the will of God be done. When we understand what the will of God is, then we put ourselves in a position that we can see the fulfillment of our prayers. By being bold to ask God to demonstrate HIS power in your life, you are creating a testimony that God can use to teach others about HIS mighty power.

II Kings 2:9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.

Elijah was about to be taken up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elijah and Elisha both knew that this was the last day Elijah was going to be serving the Lord here on the earth. Neither man knew where Elijah would be when the Lord came, but they did know HE was coming that day. Elijah kept asking Elisha to wait for him. However, Elisha had been called to be the successor of Elijah and he was not going to leave Elijah until the Lord finally took him away.

Because Elisha was faithful to Elijah and refused to leave, Elijah finally asked Elisha what he desired. Elijah knew that God answered his prayers. Elijah had seen God stop the rain and bring it once again. Elijah had seen God bring fire down from heaven to consume a sacrifice that was flooded with water and twice to destroy a group of fifty soldiers who desired to harm him. Elijah had seen God answer his prayers by bringing life to a dead widow’s son.

Elijah understood that God was real and that God had called Elisha to be the next prophet of Israel. In the same way that God appeared to Solomon because of his faithfulness and gave Solomon the ability to ask for anything, so also, Elijah told Elisha that he could ask for anything he desired.

Elisha had the opportunity to ask for riches, long life, or popularity, but instead he asked for a double portion. Elisha knew what real power Elijah had with God and he was not content to just do the same, but instead, he desired to continue to excel for God. Who needed money if you could pray and God would answer your needs? Who needs long life when each day you have a ministry of serving God?

Solomon was wise in that he asked for wisdom to govern the people who God had given unto him. Elisha was wise because he was called to be the next prophet of Israel and he simply asked for a double portion of the spirit of God that was upon the life of his mentor.

Elisha was not the great prophet yet, he was simply the prophet in training. However, Elisha remained faithful to God in following Elijah until the end of his ministry. Elisha was not about to leave and miss out on any blessing the Lord might have for him. Elisha understood that if he saw Elijah leave in a whirlwind, he could testify to the fact verses just telling everyone that is what the Lord planned on doing with Elijah.

Ruth refused to leave Naomi and God blessed her with a husband and a son. Ruth had every opportunity to leave, but Ruth remained faithful even though it appeared that there would be no logical reason for her to stay with Naomi. Ruth was blessed by her willingness to do the right thing just as Elisha was blessed because he remained focused upon serving Elijah until the last minute of his life.

Sometimes it seems like you are on a dead end path. For Elisha, every step he took with Elijah that day would mean he would have to take it again to go back to his home. However, we need to remain faithful to God and patiently wait for God to bring HIS perfect will to pass. Just because something seems like a dead end, if we are in the center of God’s will, then we are in a position that God can bless us in ways we never imagined.

Acts 1:24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, show whether of these two thou hast chosen,

Jesus’ followers were waiting for the Holy Ghost to come and fill them with power. While they were waiting, they determined that it was appropriate to appoint a man to replace Judas who had hung himself after he had betrayed Jesus. The followers appointed Justus and Matthias. Now the decision came, both these men were qualified, but they could not know the hearts of these two men, they needed God’s help in selecting.

Most likely, Jesus’ followers were all shocked at the betrayal of Judas. They had spent three years with him but they never saw it coming. These men realized that what they thought they knew about Judas was just a veil compared to the real Judas.

The disciples could see what these two men had allowed them to see. These two men had evidently proven themselves faithful as followers of Christ. However, only one of them could be anointed as a disciple. Jesus’ followers did not know what these men would do tomorrow let alone in ten years. All Jesus’ followers could do was pray that God would show them which man to select.

How often do we have to make selections in our lives? Do we stop and take the time to pray and ask God what we are to do? All around us there are people who appear to be good, but inside, they are hypocrites. We need God’s discernment if we are going to stay out of a lot of trouble.

Maybe you are about to go into a business arrangement with someone. They are a good friend and you really think that this will be a great deal for both of you. However, have you stopped and prayed that God reveal to you whether this individual will remain true for many years to come? Right now their heart seems right, but will money become their god and will it ruin your relationship?

If you are single and looking for a spouse, can you ever really know the heart of the person that you are seeking to marry? Yes they may be spiritual today, but when things get tough, how will they respond to the trial in five years? You do not and cannot know the answer to that question. However, if you take the time to pray and seek God’s will, you can ask HIM to reveal what you should do. God knows the hearts of men and HE knows who will be faithful and who will break your heart.

When it comes to making decisions about other people, these types of decisions need to be made with a lot of prayer. We can never know the heart of the other person and as such, we need to allow God to direct our paths. We should come before God and reveal to HIM just how feeble we are without HIM. Until we learn to ask God for direction when it comes to others, we will never be ready to receive HIS perfect direction for our life.

We need to be patient and understand the bigger picture of God. Just because we think we know it all, there is a level that is completely out of our control. We can never really know the heart of man and we must learn to patiently wait on God to reveal to us how we should interact with others. Until we are willing to let go of our own ideas and allow God to direct our every step, we will never be ready to be all that we can be through HIM. We will never learn all the lessons that HE has for us until we are willing to be patient and allow HIM to direct our steps.

John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

In this chapter, Jesus says that he is the vine and we are the branches. Jesus tell us that if a branch does not bear fruit, then it will be pruned. Jesus then goes on to show that we cannot bear fruit of our own accord but that we must abide in him.

In this passage, Jesus gives us a promise that most Christians have not fully comprehended. Jesus tells us that if we abide in HIM and allow HIS words to be the center of our life, then when we ask God for something, it shall be given unto us. The problem with most people is that they only look at the back half of this verse and do not take the time to fully understand the condition that we must first fulfill in order to obtain the promise.

What does it mean to abide in God? Does it mean that if we read our Bible for five minutes a day that we are abiding in God and his words are abiding in us? Let’s compare a branch to a vine, if the branch were only attached to the vine for five minutes a day, would it be bearing much fruit? Clearly, for a branch to abide in the vine, we are talking about something more substantial than just five minutes a day or one day a month.

When Jesus tells us that we must abide in HIM, HE is talking about something more than just token time spent with HIM. What if some individual prayed three hours a day, but for the next 21 hours, they lived how they wanted, would that be abiding in HIM? When we chose to abide in HIM, it is a complete commitment to God. This means that God has complete control over our life. In order to abide in HIM, we must put aside the things of the world.

Jesus is not telling you not to work and that you are supposed to spend 24 hours a day in the church praying to HIM. However, the fear of the Lord should be an active part of our life and we need to live each moment for HIM. As we go about our day and we are faced with a decision, we need to ask God to reveal to us HIS perfect will. We need to understand that our lives are reflecting HIS love to the world. If we fail to properly reflect HIS love, then we are not being a good testimony of abiding in Jesus.

We all desire to have a powerful prayer life. We all desire to pray and see God answer our prayers. However, are you willing to abide in HIM so that when you pray, you are seeking HIS will for your life so that you know how to live your life so that you can continue to abide in HIM? Are you willing to make the sacrifice to abide in HIM and allow HIS words to abide in you so that when you are asking God in prayer for something, you are asking HIM for something that HE has already shown you is a part of HIS will for your life?

Many people see a concert pianist and would love to be able to play that good but they would never want to put in the hours of practice that the concert pianist has put in. Many people see well behaved children and desire their children to be as well behaved but they are not willing to make the sacrifices that are necessary in order train up their children in the way they are to go. Many would love to see a powerful prayer life but they are not willing to put the time in first.

You need to diligently add temperance to your life so that you can say no to the influences of this world so that you can put the things of God first in your life. Learn to abide in HIM and allow HIS words to flow through your life so that you can ask of God and you will receive.

Matthew 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Christ uses the example of a child asking his father to give him some bread. The father does not turn to his child and give him a stone and tell him to chew on that for a while. Christ then uses the example of a child asking for a fish and how the father does not give him a snake. Christ then teaches us a very important lesson about our Father. If an earthly father who has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God knows how to give good gifts to his children, how much more does a perfect Heavenly Father know how to give good things to those who ask HIM?

Do we really understand God? Because of our perverted sense that God is nothing but a big Santa Clause, we come to him with a laundry list of things that we desire and we expect HIM to give them to us. When God does not give us the things that we request, we become dissolutioned with God and our faith crumbles.

If a child came up to his father and asked him for a brand new Lamborghini, do you think the father would purchase it for his 10 year old son just because his son asked for one? Clearly the answer would be no even if the father could afford to purchase the car for his son. The father knows that his son is not ready to drive a car so he has no need of such an expensive sports car. Furthermore, even if the son was of driving age, the answer would probably be no because the son would need to learn to be responsible with that which is least before being given something with so much power.

Scripture tells us that we have not because we ask for things that we can consume on our own lusts. Look at your prayer life, what are the things that you are asking God for? Are you asking for a new job, more money, a new house, or a new car? We need to be careful what we are asking God for and make sure that we are asking HIM for things that are a part of HIS purpose for our life. If we are asking for things that are in accordance with HIS will, then we know that we have the things that we are asking God for.

Rather than just coming to God and asking HIM for everything that we think we want, instead we need to be like Solomon and ask God for those things that we need in order to fulfill HIS purpose for our life. Once we change our mindset, the power of our prayer life should dramatically change. Once we learn what we need for God to fulfill HIS purpose in our life, we can have a whole new focus on our life.

Christ teaches us in this passage that God knows how to give good things to those who ask HIM. Just because you think something is good, it does not mean that God agrees with you. A three-year-old boy likes the taste of sugar and he will constantly be asking his mother for an ice cream treat. However, his mother knows that a lot of sugar is not good for her son and as such, she will not give him ice cream just because he asks his mother for it.

You must add temperance to your life to change your focus from the things that you want to the things that you need in order to fulfill God’s purpose for your life. If you want to see God start answering your prayers and giving you the good things, then you must first change your mindset and learn to start asking for those things that are in accordance with HIS will for your life. Start asking God for the good things and you will find that God will give you the desires of your heart.

Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

Hannah asked for a child and God not only gave her Samuel but also gave her three sons and two daughters. Solomon asked for wisdom and it was given unto him. Blind Bartimaeus asked Jesus for his sight and it was restored. These individuals asked God for something and they received their request.

It is important that we understand that if we abide in God, and we meditate upon HIS words, we are learning to delight ourselves in the Lord and HE has promised to give us the desires of our heart. We are told in 1 John 5:14-15 that “this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”

God desires that we learn to seek HIS will. Once we understand HIS will for our life, then we have the confidence that when we ask HIM for something in accordance with HIS will, then we shall receive that which we asked for. Powerful prayer warriors understand and apply this principle. They spend a lot of time drawing closer to God so that they will hear HIS still small voice so that they can receive the petition that they are asking God for.

Christ taught “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:7. It is important to understand that if we desire something from the Lord that we need to spend ample time in the Bible seeking to understand God’s will for our life. However, just because you understand God’s will for your life, it does not mean that God will not require you to go through a long period of asking HIM to fulfill HIS will. Just because you know HIS will, it does not mean that you know HIS perfect timing.

David understood that he was to be king of Israel. However, he had to wait many years as Saul tried to kill him before he saw the fulfillment of God’s will for his life. Joseph was given a dream at age 17 that he would be a great leader. However, Joseph was left for dead, sold as a slave, thrown into prison, and then forgotten by someone he had tried to help. Nonetheless, God had not forsaken Joseph and thirteen years after his vision, God lifted Joseph up out of prison and made him second in command over all Egypt.

Just because you have sought the Lord’s will and asked HIM for it, it does not mean that you do not have to demonstrate some persistence in your prayers. Hannah desired a child and she was found diligently praying to God for a son. Blind Bartimaeus had to cry out constantly and ignore those who were trying to get him to shut up.

Most likely, you feel that your prayer life is lacking. You hear stories from others about how powerful their prayers are and you wish that you could see such power in your own life. Follow the commands of Christ and start asking God to show you HIS will. Spend time seeking HIS will for your life. Once HE has revealed HIS will to you, start knocking until HE opens the door.

Your prayer life should not be about what you desire so that you can consume it upon yourself. Instead, you should add temperance to your life and learn to seek the will of God so that HE can add to the testimony that HE has already started in you. Be prepared to sacrifice the things of this world so that you can knock and continue to knock until HE gives you the desires of HIS heart.

Genesis 30:22 And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.

It appears that after many years of personally trying to solve her problem of not having any children, Rachel finally cried out to God in prayer. Rachel had tried everything to conceive children but ultimately, it was God who fulfilled the desires of her heart.

How often are we just like Rachel? We see something we want and we do what we can in our own strength in order to obtain it. We often treat God as an afterthought. We think that God is not interested in our daily life and so we do what we want until we dig ourselves into a hole that we cannot escape.

God is our Creator and HE loves us. HE desires to be a part of every aspect of our lives. Just as God was concerned with who should be the wife of Isaac, so also, God was concerned about Rachel having children. The servant of Abraham asked God to direct his path when it came to finding Rebekah, but for many years, Rachel chose to try to conceive children by her own might.

According to this passage, it is clear that Rachel finally turned to God and asked HIM to give her a son. This does not mean that God gave Rachel a son the second she asked God for one, but it does mean that God heard Rachel and HE gave her the desires of her heart.

Have you ever been frustrated trying to obtain something that you wanted and everything you try seems to fail? Are you trying to fulfill God’s purpose for your life in your own strength? Abraham tried to have God’s promise child through Hagar and it ended up in a lot of heartache for him. Jacob stole the birthright that God had told Rebekah belonged to him, but because he fulfilled God’s promise in his own strength, he never saw his mother again and he was constantly dealing with the repercussions of his deceit.

We need to follow the example of Hannah who prayerfully went before the Lord and asked HIM for the desires of her heart. Hannah did not go out and try to find ways for God to answer her prayers, but instead, she relied fully on HIM. Scripture tells us that if we ask, we shall receive. Jesus taught that “whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” John taught us that if we ask anything according to HIS will, then HE hears us and if HE hears us then we know that we receive the petition that we desire of HIM.

It is important that we learn to rely upon HIM for the desires of our heart. Rather than waste all of our time trying to do the Lord’s will in our own strength, we would be much better off to turn to HIM and rely upon HIS perfect timing and HIS perfect way. God desires to do great things through us, but we need to be careful to submit ourselves to HIM and HIS perfect way.

Rachel tried to obtain children by her own strength and she failed. It was not until she put aside the things of the world and cried out to God that we are told that God heard her cry. Maybe one of the reasons you are not obtaining the desires of your heart is because in the back of your mind, you are still trying to obtain the good things God has for you in your own strength.

You must diligently add temperance to your life so that you can say no to the things of this world. As you allow God’s strength through you to overcome the temptations of taking control over your life, you will find a new freedom. You must learn to rely upon God so that HIS light can properly reflect through you. Do not attempt to obtain the perfect will of God in your own strength, instead, ask God and seek HIM for HE shall bring it to pass.

Acts 13:3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

Several of the prophets and teachers in Antioch had been fasting for the purpose of ministering unto God. As these men put the things of God as a priority in their life, they clearly heard the voice of God. They heard the voice of God as a multitude. This means that there was a wonderful confirmation knowing that it was not just Barnabas and Saul who heard the calling, but all the men together heard the calling of God and knew that God had a special purpose for these men.

These men had fasted for the purpose of ministering unto God and they had heard the calling of God for the life of Saul and Barnabas. In this passage, we see that before they sent Saul and Barnabas away, that they fasted and prayed some more. Whether this is a separate fast from the fast in which they ministered unto God we do not know, what we do know is that they fasted for the purpose of sending Saul and Barnabas out to do the work of God.

The prophets and teachers already knew the will of God so why would they need to fast and pray? These men were not fasting and praying to receive confirmation of the will of God, they had heard God speak through a multitude of men. There are several reasons for this time of fasting and prayer. It could have been a sacrifice of praise to God for calling these men out to go and serve HIM. It could have been a time of asking God to protect these men as they went out and started several churches. It could have been another opportunity to live their lives in a manner that was pleasing to God.

While we do not know why these men fasted and prayed before sending Saul and Barnabas out, we do know that they did fast and pray. Remember that the believers were first called Christians at Antioch. One of the reasons for this title was because of how much they strived to live their lives in a manner that was pleasing to the Lord. From this passage in the book of Acts, we see that these Christians were quick to abstain from the things of this world in order to put the things of God as a priority in their life.

Fasting is a time when one abstains from food. There are many reasons why people fast. Some people fast for health benefits that they might receive. Others fast as a way to show their spirituality as the religious leaders did during the time of Christ. Some people fast as a way to demonstrate their repentance for their sins as the nation of Ninevah did after hearing the sermon of Jonah. Others fast in order to hear the voice of God and to receive direction for their lives as Elijah did after he saw God bring fire out of heaven and rain from a cloud the size of a fist.

Yes there are many reasons why you can fast for your own benefit, but in these verses, we see the importance of fasting not for your own benefit but for the benefit of God. These men were saying no to the things of this world in order to draw closer to God. By putting the things of God first in their life they received direction that they were not even asking for; by putting the things of God first, they received purpose that they were not even seeking.

Fasting and praying are tools that help demonstrate that you are adding temperance to your life. When you fast and pray, you are saying no to the things of this world and saying yes to the things of God. The more that the things of this world do not entangle you, the clearer the voice of God will be in your life and the easier it will be for you to go where God needs you.

Matthew 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

In the previous verses, Jesus tells us that if our son asks for bread, we would not give him a stone, or if he asks for a fish we would not give him a snake. Jesus then analogizes this principle to us asking God for good things. We are sinners and have fallen short of the glory of God. However, even though we are sinners, we do not go out and cause harm to those who we love.

God is perfect, HE has no sin. In God there is no evil. If we who are evil know how to take care of those whom we love, how much more does God know how to take care of us whom HE loves?

This passage really reveals to us our own misunderstandings about who we are and who God is. In our own minds, we may acknowledge that we are not perfect, but we do not see ourselves as evil. Calling ourselves evil is not the first thing that comes to our mind. However, all of our good works are as filthy rags. Apart from God we are nothing.

The second thing that this passage reveals to us is that God is good. Because of our own sinful nature, sin has clouded our perspective of who God really is. Because God does not answer our prayers right away or because HE allows some tragic event to occur in our life, we often fail to see just how much God loves us.

God is good. God loves us so much that HE sent HIS only Son to die for us so that we might have renewed fellowship with HIM again. However, this is not the only good thing that HE has done for you. God desires that you learn how to communicate with HIM. Just as a son has fellowship with his father, so God desires that you have fellowship with HIM.

God is not going to give you everything you wish. Your earthly father did not spoil you by giving you what you wanted when you wanted it, so why should you expect God to do the same? Your earthly father loved you so much that at times, he did not intervene on your behalf but instead he would let you try something on your own knowing that you would not succeed. He did this knowing that once you failed, you would turn to him and that you would be ready to listen to his advice.

God could intervene in our life more than HE does. However, it is because of HIS love for us that HE allows us to face the consequences of our actions. God does not leave us or forsakes us; we are the ones who leave HIM and forsake HIM.

It is time for you to learn who God is. It is time for you to understand what it means to have a personal relationship with your Father in Heaven. You must take the time to add knowledge of the ways of God. You need to stop blaming God for all your problems. Learn to develop a relationship with God and this relationship will last you for many years to come.

God has many good things in store for you. God is willing to direct you, protect you, and provide for you – why do you fail to ask HIM? God desires to bless you and give you the peace that passeth all understanding – why do you fail to ask HIM? God desires to have a personal relationship with you – why do you fail to ask HIM? We serve a loving God; you need to understand that. You need to take the time to understand who God is.

Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

How many good things of God do you not have because you have failed to even ask God to give them to you? You ask not because you are afraid of what God might do. You fear that if you ask God for direction, that HE might send you to some third world country to live the rest of your life. As such, you would rather just not know the will of God since you believe it would be better to not know the will of God then to know it and disobey it.

There is a difference between asking, seeking, and knocking. If you were to walk into a business and ask them for a job, that would be completely different than doing research on a company to determine who was hiring and which company might have a need for your services. The difference between asking and knocking reveals a difference in intensity. When you are knocking, it demonstrates a diligence and perseverance. An individual who is knocking will not quickly give up.

God desires that we learn to ask, seek, and knock to discover a knowledge of the ways of God. We must be willing to take the time to not only ask God to reveal HIMSELF to us, but that we must be willing to set aside the time necessary to hear from God. We must be diligent and insist that we are not going to stop pursuing God until HE gives us that which HE has promised us.

We need to be like the woman who had an issue of blood for twelve years. She fought through the crowd knowing that if she only touched Jesus, then she would be healed. It was her faith and perseverance that healed her.

We need to be like the Gentile woman who insisted that Jesus heal her daughter. Jesus told the woman that HE was called to the nation of Israel. This woman did not leave but insisted that even if she was a dog, the dogs were entitled to crumbs. Jesus tells us about two individuals who had great faith and this woman was one of them.

When was the last time you set aside time to get alone with God? When was the last time you told God that you were going to abstain from eating until God revealed HIMSELF to you? When was the last time you put your focus fully on God and sought to grow in your relationship with HIM?

You must understand that it is not God who draws away from us, it is us who draws away from HIM. God desires to do great things through us, but too often, we fail to ask, seek, and knock because we are comfortable where we are at today.

It is time for you to put the things of God first in your life. It is time for you to start growing in your relationship with God. How can you live a life of contentment if you do not understand what God desires you to do next?

God desires to make the paths of your life clear. God does lead you through some difficult times but you can be assured that no matter how great your trial, God is ready and able to guide you every step of the way. God is waiting for you to just ask HIM. HE promises that if you ask, you will receive, if you seek you will find, and if you knock it will be opened unto you. What have you to fear?

Proverbs 20:8 A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.

If a ruler is deemed to be weak, the people will be lawless. However, if a ruler quickly disciplines those who do wrong, then those who desire to do wickedness are not nearly as quick to do what they want when they want.

We see during the reign of King Solomon that there was great peace in Israel. How would you like to be an evil doer during the time of Solomon? You hear about two prostitutes who come before Solomon for judgment and Solomon has the wisdom to discern which of the two women was the mother of the living child. If Solomon was wise enough to figure out which mother belonged to the baby, surely he would be able to figure out whether you are guilty.

However, after the death of Solomon, his son Rehoboam was put to the test. The people saw that in Rehoboam there was not the same wisdom of his father and thus the people scattered and named their own king. The nation of Israel did not have the respect for Rehoboam.

Every person at some time in their life will be the king or queen of some kingdom. Whether you become a manager over a large company with 1,000’s of workers or whether you are in charge of the local softball team you are still in charge. Whether you are making decisions regarding the life of your children or organizing a vacation Bible school, you need the wisdom of God to ensure that the decisions you make are just.

If people see that you are not willing to stand up and render a judgment, they will perceive that you are weak and will not respect your authority. The parent who refuses to set forth any rules is not a loving parent but is really showing how little they care about those who God has given to them. In the same way that a child can be secure in the home when they know what the rules are and they know that those rules will be administered fairly, so likewise there is order in a country when the people know that all men are treated equally under the law.

You need the wisdom of God to rule in judgment over those who God has put under you. Solomon was wise enough to ask God for wisdom so that he could properly rule the people that God had given to him. In the same way that Solomon was able to rule over his kingdom during a great time of peace because of the wisdom from God, so likewise, you too can enjoy the benefits of the wisdom of God.

Ask the Lord for wisdom. Seek wisdom from the Word of God. Knock and do not stop knocking until the Lord gives you the wisdom you need in order to face the problems you have today. If you desire to see peace in your classroom, your home, or your work place, then that peace must start with you. You must be willing to put God first in your life. You must be willing to add knowledge of the ways of God. You must be willing set rules and follow them.

God is our example. We understand that God loves us and HE sent HIS only Son to die for us so that we might have eternal life. However, this same God of love is also the God of judgment. HE has created Hell for those who do not accept the free gift of salvation. How can a perfect God expect us to be just in following rules if HE has not first set an example to us of what it means to be a just ruler? Yes there is a time for mercy and a time for love, but mercy and love cannot dominate in the absence of justice and judgment. As a leader, you need to learn the lessons of leadership as given to us by Solomon in this passage.

Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

Wisdom and understanding will not be the easiest thing in the world to obtain – it will cost you something to obtain them. When Solomon was asked of God to ask for whatever he desired, Solomon had just made 1,000 burnt offerings to God. 1,000 burnt offerings was not a cheap gift to God, it demonstrated to God that Solomon desired to please the Lord first and foremost.

When David sinned and numbered the people, he made a sacrifice to God in order to stop the plague that God had sent across the land. One of the subjects of David, Araunah was willing to give to David the land, the wood, and the oxen. However, David told Araunah that he would not offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. (2 Samuel 24:24). David was not going to worship God at the expense of another.

What are you willing to sacrifice in order to obtain the favor of the Lord? God desires to show HIMSELF strong in your life, but you must first desire to draw closer to God. You live in a world that is constantly trying to draw you away from God, and God longs for you to forsake the things of this world and come unto HIM. As you make sacrifices away from worldly things, God is able to bless you in ways that you could never imagine.

You have probably memorized Psalms 37:4-5, Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. In order to obtain the desires of your heart, you need to learn to first start delighting in HIM, you need to start committing your way unto HIM. You must make the sacrifices that are necessary to put God first in your life.

You will never make the sacrifices necessary to obtain wisdom and knowledge if you do not see the value in obtaining these gifts from God. Just as an Olympic athlete understands the prize that is available to the one who finishes first, so too must you understand the spiritual benefit of obtaining wisdom and knowledge. An Olympic athlete will make great sacrifices in order to become the best in their discipline. They will put the rest of their life on hold in order to obtain a gold medal and a few minutes of fame and praises of man. Why should you not be willing to make some sacrifices in order to those gifts from God that are eternal?

Jesus commanded us in the Sermon on the Mount that we are to ask so that we shall receive, seek so that we shall find, knock so that it shall be open unto us. Just because we have asked Jesus to be our personal Lord and Savior, it does not mean that we do not have an obligation to obtain a closer walk with God. Every day we must prepare our heart to love the Lord with all our heart and to put HIM first in our lives. Every day the world will try to distract you with the things of this world, but by the grace of God, you can overcome. You must learn the value of the things of God and then you must make an effort in order to obtain those things.

Knowledge of the ways of God is an important part of your Christian life. We are told that we are supposed to add knowledge to our faith and virtue. Unless we take the time to understand the value of knowledge, we will never pursue it as we should. We need to purse wisdom and knowledge just as a dog pursues a ball that you threw to it – the dog will run as fast as he can until the ball is his. What are you going to do today in order to obtain wisdom and knowledge?

Proverbs 2:5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

God has promised you that you can find knowledge and that you can understand the fear of the Lord. This promise is not given to all; it is given to those who desire to find knowledge. You will not stumble across knowledge by mistake; you will only obtain it if you make an effort in order to find it. In the previous four verses, Solomon has gone through the steps of what you need to do in order to obtain the knowledge of God.

In order to obtain the knowledge of God and understand the fear of the Lord, you must first make an effort to meditate upon the Bible. In addition, you must set your heart and mind upon the things of God. Next you need to ask God for knowledge and understanding. Finally, you must seek after that which you desire to obtain. It is not enough to simply ask for it, but you must seek after it also.

When the servant of Abraham was seeking a wife for Isaac, he asked of God for a miracle to help him know the one whom God had chosen for Isaac. However, the servant of Abraham had to act upon the request and actually ask the young virgins to give him a drink of water. The servant of Abraham had to actively seek the will of the Lord after he had already asked.

When Gideon was pursuing the will of God, he asked the Lord to perform a miracle regarding the fleeces. However, what good would the request of Gideon have been had he not put the fleece out each night? Gideon had asked God for a miracle, but he had to also act upon that request by following through on his part by putting the fleece out.

It seems so easy to ask and seek, but that is the problem with most Christians today, they are willing to ask God to perform a miracle, but they are unwilling to do what it takes to step out in faith. Peter asked Jesus to call him to walk on water, but once Jesus said come, Peter still had to step out of the boat and put all of his weight upon the water.

Many Christians are not afraid to ask God for something because they really do not expect God to give it to them anyways. However, they are not willing to actively seek to put action to their faith because they are afraid of what others might think if they do not find what they set out to look for. It is because of this lack of asking and seeking that the world is not impressed by the light of Christians. The world does not see any real power in our God and as such, they have no incentive to turn from their wicked ways and to ask Jesus Christ to be their personal Savior.

During the Sermon on the Mount, Christ commanded us that we are to ask, seek, and knock. It is not enough to just ask, we must ask, we must seek, and we must knock. If we desire to obtain the promises of God, it is not enough to know where to look, appreciate the value of the promise of God and ask for it; we also must understand those things that God desires us to do in order to obtain it.

You can understand the fear of the Lord; God will reveal it to you. You can find the knowledge of God; God will guide you so that you can find it. A person who sits on the couch all day watching television is not very likely to earn a million dollars. So likewise, a Christian is not very likely to obtain knowledge of the ways of God if they do actively open up the word of God and try to hear HIS still small voice. The promises of God are available to you if you will only follow HIS directions in doing what is required of you in order to obtain the promises.

Proverbs 2:3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;

You have heard that you are to add knowledge of the ways of God to your life. You have heard that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. In this passage, Solomon is listing steps that you need to go through in order to understand the fear of the Lord and to find knowledge of God. The first step is to receive his words, the second is to hid his commandments in your heart, the third is to incline you ear unto wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding.

In this verse we see we must ask for knowledge and understanding. The Hebrew word used as knowledge here means understanding and wisdom; it is a different Hebrew word than is used in verse five when we hear that we shall find knowledge of God. In order to find knowledge, we must start by asking for wisdom and understanding. However, this is not a prayer that you ask for one time, this should be a prayer that is continually upon your lips.

If it is your goal to obtain the fear of the Lord then you must take the time to be asking God for those things that will lead you to your ultimate destination. Obtaining the fear of the Lord and finding knowledge of God is only going to be obtained if you really desire to find it. You first need to be looking in the right place, and then set your heart and mind so as to obtain it. Once you are sure that you have the proper heart and mind, you are then in the position where you can be persistent in prayer.

Jesus tells us a parable about the importance of persistent prayer. In Luke 18, Jesus teaches us about a widow who needed to be avenged of her enemies. The judge would not give her the justice that she deserved, but because she was persistent, eventually the judge took care of the widow. Jesus finished this parable by asking whether HE will find such faith?

Most Christians really do not understand the power of prayer. They have lost sight of the power of God and thus they treat HIM as someone who they pay homage to, but not as a God who is interested in directing, protecting, and providing for them. A deeper understanding of the ways of God is available, but you must be persistent and start praying to God for HIS wisdom and HIS understanding. If you do not ask, how can you expect to receive? You must be like Solomon who asked God for wisdom. You must take the time in your meditations of the Bible to see the importance of wisdom.

It is not a simple little process to add knowledge to your faith and virtue. It requires planning and a change of perspective. When Columbus desired to sail across the Atlantic and find a quicker route to India, he had to go through many steps of preparation. One of these steps was asking a country to put up the money to pay the ships and crew so that they could go exploring. Columbus had to do a lot of asking and eventually he received his funding. Columbus had set his affections on that which he desired, and he did not stop asking until he received what he needed. The same should be true for us, we need to see that the fear of the Lord and knowledge of the ways of God are extremely important, and we should take the time in prayer to follow those steps that are required of us in order to obtain that which is ours to obtain.

It is hard to be persistent in prayer if you do not desire that which you are asking for. You must learn the importance of drawing closer to God and then take the time to daily ask HIM for those things you need in order to draw you closer to HIM.

Acts 9:6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

Saul had just been faced with a bright light and a loud voice. God acknowledged HIS presence in the life of Saul and Saul immediately asked God what it was that God desired him to do. Saul had not been seeking God, but when God made HIS presence known to Saul, Saul understood that God was appearing to him for a purpose and that as such, Saul needed to discern the desires of God.

There are going to be times in your life where God makes HIS presence known to you. When God makes HIMSELF known to you, you have an obligation to ask HIM to show you the direction that HE has for you. Granted, you should always be seeking the will of God and the way HE would have you to go, but when God takes the time to make a special appearance in your life, you should be quick to drop everything and seek to do HIS perfect will.

Think of all the times that God made special appearances in the Bible. Think of how important those contacts were to the men who received direction from God. Gideon had not been seeking God; he was simply trying to provide food for his family. Yet God had an important job for Gideon to do and Gideon was faithful to God because HE was willing to obey.

In your spiritual walk, there will be times where you are on the mountain top and God seems so real and there will be times when you are in the valley of the shadow of death and it feels like God is so far away. It does not matter where you are in your spiritual walk, when God starts speaking; you need to be willing to listen and quick to obey. When God starts to speak to you, you should ask God what HE desires you to do. God is not a waste of your time.

It is the desire of God that you develop a heart that is willing to serve HIM. God longs for you to put HIM first and to seek to serve HIM. However, God is not going to make you obey HIM. Instead, God will make HIS will known to those who desire to please HIM.

When was the last time that you sat down and asked God what HE desired you to do? When was the last time that you felt the presence of God and you did not ask God to do something for you? Too often, we are quick to ask God for something rather than asking God to show us what we can do for HIM.

As an employee, do you constantly demand your boss to do things for you? Do you ask for raises, bonuses, and special perks every hour or do you ask your boss what you can do to serve HIM better? When you work, your boss is your master and if you constantly were asking him to give you things, you might quickly find yourself out of a job. Instead, your boss expects you to be looking for ways to make him successful. As you diligently work to meet the needs of your boss; then your boss will be in a position that HE can give you those things that you desire.

Saul had been blinded by the great light. However, Saul was not asking God to heal his sight, instead, Saul asked God to direct him in the way he was to go. Follow the example of Saul and start being more concerned with what God would have you to do rather than looking for what HE can give you so that you are satisfied. God is your Master, if you add knowledge to your life, you will understand your position with God and you will start living your life with the will of God being the most important thing to you.

Isaiah 6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

The prophet Isaiah heard the voice of God, and upon hearing what was near to God, Isaiah was in a position to please God by doing that which the Lord desired. How many other Israelites were alive at the time of Isaiah’s calling? Only Isaiah heard the Lord’s desires and acted upon them? Isaiah could be used of God in a mighty way because he learned to hear God’s voice.

 When David was on the run from Saul, he uttered how much he desired a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem. Three of his men went through enemy lines and obtained a drink for David. These men knew what David had wanted and they were attentive to his desires. David probably did not utter that he desired a drink of water in front of all his men, but it was probably something he uttered almost to himself and only those who were near to David could have heard David’s desires. These three men were numbered among David’s mighty men and they did many spectacular things.

David’s three men not only were brave, but they knew how to place themselves in a position that they could hear what David desired. Because they heard David’s desires, they were able to go to great lengths to give to the one whom they serve the desires of his heart. These men did not care for their own lives; all they cared about was meeting the desires of the one whom they served.

We need to be like David’s mighty men. We need to demonstrate our willingness to serve God regardless of the personal costs. When we put the things of the Lord first in our lives, we need to change our priorities so that it is the one whom we serve that is the most important thing to us. Our own desires and our own safety should be secondary to the needs of the One whom we serve.

We need to be like David’s mighty men. We need to demonstrate our desire to put ourselves in a place that we can hear the voice of God. It does not matter if we are willing to obey God, if we never put ourselves in a position where we can hear God, then we never know what God desires. We must learn to draw near to God. We must learn to put ourselves in a position that we can hear HIS still small voice.

You do not hear God’s still small voice if your life is filled with the things of this world. If you allow the world, the flesh, and the devil to control your life; you will never be in a position where you can hear God’s voice. If the lusts of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life are controlling your actions, you will not be close to God and you will not know HIS desires.

If you desire to hear God, then you must add to your faith virtue. You must fill your mind with the good things of God so that you begin to desire the things of God. As you seek for the Lord, you will find HIM. As you ask HIM to speak to you, you will hear HIS voice. You will not hear the still small voice in the hustle and bustle of daily life. In order to hear the still small voice of God, you will have to set aside time where you and God get alone away from all distractions and you concentrate upon HIM.

Psalms 126:4 Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the south.

On many occasions the nation of Israel was in captivity to foreign nations. Sometimes they were actually captives in a foreign land like with the nation of Egypt and the nation of Babylon. Other times the nation was held captive in their own country like with the Midianites in the time of Gideon or the Philistines during the time of Samson. It did not matter what type of captivity it was, there was only One who could deliver them, God.

You may not think that you have ever been a captive but you were once a captive of sin. As a sinner, the only way you were going to be released from being a slave to sin was by the grace of God. You had to come to God and repent and ask God to free you. By God’s grace, you were freed from bondages of sin.

Just because you asked God to forgive you for your sins and you became a servant of God, this does not mean that Satan has stopped trying to bring you back into his camp. Look at the nation of Israel. God would deliver HIS people as captives to a foreign nation, the people would cry out to God, God would rise up a deliverer, and free HIS people. However, as soon as the leader died, the people went back to their wickedness and God allowed another captivity to begin.

It is no different in your life. You are always at battle with Satan over keeping your mind right before God. Satan loves to bring you into captivity to sin and he knows your weaknesses. Satan will tempt you with the things of this world in order to distract your attention from serving the Lord your God with all your heart. It is real easy for you to slip back into being a captive of sin. Satan will do it gradually; he will encourage you to make small compromises that feel comfortable. As you compromise your faith, you will become a captive of sin and you will need to repent and have God deliver you once again.

You can be a captive of so many things. Each of us has our own weaknesses. For some it can be power, for others passions, for others possessions. It does not matter what your personal captivity is, the only way for you to escape will be by the power of God. You will need to cry out to God. You need to acknowledge your sin. Cry out to God and ask HIM to deliver you. Ask God to protect you from falling back into that sin that besets you. By God’s grace you will be delivered and HE will be glorified in your life.

What is your captivity? What is holding you back from fully trusting in God? What sin is in your life that is preventing you from having great faith? Examine yourself and see what weaknesses Satan is exploiting to damage your effectiveness for God. Is your mind right before God? Is there anything that comes between you and your relationship with God? If there is, you are in captivity and you need to turn to God to deliver you from that sin that binds you.

You need to set your mind upon the things of God. Fill your mind with the things of God and not the things of this world. As you add to your faith virtue, God will be able to open doors to you that you thought were shut. The reason why those doors might have been shut was because God allowed you to be a captive because of the sin that was in your life. As you fill your life with God, doors will open and you will be free to serve HIM.

Psalms 93:4 The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.

On December 26, 2004 a powerful tsunami hit the country of Indonesia and claim the lives of approximately 280,000. This was a very powerful wave that is considered by some as the eighth most deadly natural disaster in the last 500 years. The second largest earthquake ever recorded generated this tsunami. As a result of this earthquake, a wave that was measured at approximately 108 feet caused much damage and radically altered the lives of millions.

The 108 foot wave generated by the earthquake was the largest recorded wave as a result of an earthquake. However, while it was the largest wave as a result of an earthquake, on May 18, 1980 when Mount Saint Helen’s erupted, that eruption caused an 820 foot wave on Spirit Lake.

While there have been many large waves that have caused massive destruction, you must remember that God is mightier than the waves. Jesus demonstrated HIS power over storms when HE was in the boat with HIS disciples and HE calmed the winds and the waves. A wave may appear to be a very powerful thing, but you must always remember that even the wave is subjected to God and must obey HIM.

Often people ask how God could allow such a destructive thing to occur. They ask, “How can a loving God allow so many innocent people to perish?” The problem with this question is that it is not the right question. Remember that God allowed the heavens and the earth to open up so that a massive flood covered the face of the earth killing everyone in the world except for Noah and his family. Noah’s flood was brought in judgment because of the wickedness that was throughout the world.

God made this world and HE can create a storm that kills everyone alive. One reason we see such powerful storms is a reminder to the world just how powerful our God is. Rather than asking why God would allow such evil to occur, the proper question that should be asked is “How can anyone not believe that there is a God?”

Waves are powerful but they are just a reminder of God’s greatness. The next time you go to a beach and you see the powerful waves come rolling in one after another, take the time to realize that if it were not for God, there would be no waves. God created the waves just as HE created you; HE spoke the waters into existence.

If God can create a wave that brings mass destruction, how much more can God do something mighty in your life to cause much good? Jesus tells us in the Sermon on the Mount that our Father knows how to “give good things to them that ask him?”

It is time to change your perspective. It is time that you realize just how mighty your God is. Look at the mountains, the oceans, and the solar system and understand that you serve a living God. It is time that you start filling your mind with the glory of God so that you might praise HIM for the works of HIS hands. Do not allow yourself to be bitter over evils that might befall you but instead, learn to understand that God is demonstrating HIS power to the world and allow the virtue within you to praise HIM for HIS power.

Psalms 86:11 Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.

Is it your heart’s cry to understand who God is? Do you take the time to discern what God is doing in your life? It is easy to say that you are a Christian, but it is a different matter to actually conform your life to the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God. God’s ways are not your ways. You must be willing to be a student of God so that HE can teach you HIS way not only in your life but also in the world around you. If you do not take the time to understand the ways of God, you will quickly be discouraged and angry with God because HE is not doing things the way you expected.

God allows things to occur in your life for the purpose of drawing you closer to HIM. These things may seem unfair, but it is a part of HIS perfect plan for your life. You may lose someone who is very close to you. If you have a heart like David’s heart, you will not allow yourself to become angry with God but instead you will learn to praise HIM because HE is in control and HE will be magnified through you if you will let HIM.

You may not be able to control the things that go on around you but you can control your response. God desires you to be like David, and be willing to seek the ways of God. You must have the heart of a student with the most important subject learning the ways of God. As you take the time to study the ways of God, HE can show you things that you never would have seen had you not first been willing to first trust and obey HIM.

God will not always immediately reveal to you why HE allows certain things to occur in your life. Some things you may not find out until you reach heaven. However, if you seek the Lord, if you are willing to allow HIM to have full reign in your life, then God can give you the peace that passeth all understanding. God will not always be mysterious. God allowed many terrible things to occur in the life of Joseph; by the end of his’ life, we see how God used all the terrible circumstances for HIS’ glory.

God allowed Job to suffer many things. Job did not curse God but instead simply trusted God. Job understood that all good things come from God and that since God is the giver of good things, God can take those good things away. One who takes the time to understand the ways of God understands that God allowed these difficult times in Job’s life so that God could be glorified. Job’s trials were difficult, but they revealed to God, Satan, and the world the true heart of Job.

The ways of God are mysterious to those who do not take the time to put God first. If you were not an auto mechanic and you went to an auto mechanic convention and sat in on the lectures, there would be a lot of strange things said that would not make much sense. However, if you were willing to apply yourself, you could learn the lingo and trade.

God’s ways are no different. Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find. If you desire to learn the ways of God, God will give you the desires of your heart and reveal to you HIS’ ways if you will but only put HIM first. As you change your mindset and allow HIM to be first in your life, the mysterious ways of God will be revealed to you. God will open doors in your life because you took the time to add virtue to your life.

Psalms 85:12 Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.

You desire good things in life. You do not desire evil things to occur to you. You do not desire to be inundated with bad news. Jesus tells us that “he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust.” (Matthew 5:45). God is in control, he allows adversity to occur in your life to guide you in the way, and HE allows good in your life so that you can praise HIM for the good things HE has done for you

God told the nation of Israel that HE would give them rain in due season HE said that HE would give “the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil.” (Deuteronomy 11:14). This blessing of God required that the people love HIM and keep HIS’ commandments. God would withhold HIS’ blessing from HIS’ people if they did not put HIM first in their lives.

When you are a child of God, you must seek to put the Lord first in your life. As you put the Lord first, HE will bless you in ways you never imagined. God may not always bless you financially, but HE will guide you in the way you are to go. God wanted the nation of Israel to understand that when they did that which was right in HIS’ eyes that one of the rewards is that HE would bless them with rain.

When the nation of Israel followed Ahab in the worship of Baal, God used Elijah and sent a drought for three and a half years. However, after the people saw the mighty hand of God and had killed the prophets of Baal, God once again brought rain to their land.

The prophet Zechariah tells us to “Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.” (Zechariah 10:1). It is important to recognize that there is a season for everything. God brings you through seasons of adversity to guide you in the way you are to go and HE brings you through seasons of abundance so that you might understand the powerful hand of God so that you might tell others of HIS’ glory.

Zechariah shows us that when we are in a time of blessing from God that we are not to stop asking HIM for HIS’ blessing. Do not be like the multitudes who naturally stop seeking God when things are good. Instead, continue to ask God to bless you in the season of God’s blessing. You must do this so as to help you appreciate that all good things come from God. If you stop asking God for good things, you lose focus on where the blessings come from and your faith will diminish as you stop praising God.

Satan would love for you to put your focus upon the things of this world. If you do not have things, he wants to discourage you into thinking that God is not blessing you. You must change your mindset. You must understand that there are seasons of adversity and there are seasons of great blessing. A farmer does not experience harvest time year round and so too must you understand that God has a purpose for everything that occurs in your life. Filling your mind with virtue will help you understand God’s purpose for each season in your life. Filling your mind with the things of God will give you an eternal perspective and enable you not to be consumed by the things of this world.

Psalms 81:10 I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.

In order to receive God’s promise from this verse, you must first fulfill the condition that God lays out for you. It sounds so simple but you must first be willing to step out in faith and make your request known to God before HE can give you the desires of your heart. You must first turn your eyes upon HIM and have HIM as your expectation.

When Joshua was leading the nation of Israel into the Promise Land, the nation first had to cross the Jordan River. God did not part the Jordan River as HE parted the Red Sea by providing the way and then instructing the people to go. This time, HE instructed the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant to step into the river. As the priest stepped into the river God preformed a miracle and parted the river. Until the priests were willing to step forth in faith and allow God to show HIMSELF strong on their behalf, God was not able to perform a miracle.

In order for God to do something special in your life, you must allow yourself to become vulnerable. God commands you to open your mouth, this means you need to allow your request to be made known to God and you must be willing to then step forth in faith so that God can use you. However, you must be careful, remember that James tells us that “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss” (James 4:2). Instead, in order to see God fill your mouth you must follow John’s instructions. John tells you “that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us” (1 John 5:14).

How many times do you think God withheld a blessing from you simply because you were not willing to ask God for it. You live in your own sheltered life, you are like the disciples who stayed in the boat and did not request Jesus to beckon them to come out into the storm. Peter opened his mouth and asked Jesus to call him and he did something you or I will ever do, he walked on water. Would Peter have walked on water if he had not first asked? No. Peter had to be willing to be used of God and he asked God to do something special in his life and Jesus worked through Peter in a special way.

You are stuck in the trenches of mediocrity not because God has no purpose for your life but because you are not willing to step out in faith and open your mouth and ask God to use you. Until you are willing to reject your comfort zone and trust God to see what HE can do through you, your effectiveness for God will be greatly reduced. You need to take the time to understand God’s will, ask God to show you HIS will so that you can effectively pray that HIS will be done in your life. Understand God’s purpose and be ready to learn to live by faith.

In order to open your mouth so as to receive God’s blessing on your life, you must first change your mindset. If you are comfortable being a lukewarm Christian, God is not going to continue to give to you so that you can consume upon yourself. Instead, you must change your focus; you must fill your mind with the things of God. As your life becomes filled with the goodness of God, the virtue that flows from your life will cause you to make requests that naturally will be a part of God’s will and will result in you seeing the fullness of God’s blessing on your life.

Psalms 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Have you ever read this passage and asked God to give you the desires of your heart? Most of us when reading this passage focus our attention upon the promise of God. However, this particular promise comes with a command. We must do something first in order to receive the promise of God. Until we are ready to learn how to delight in God, God is not ready to give us the desires of our heart.

Have you ever really contemplated what it means to delight in God? You are not delighting in God if the only time you talk to HIM is when you are thanking HIM for your meal. You are not delighting in God if you forget about HIM six days a week and only spend time with HIM on Sunday morning as you go to church.

Delighting in God requires your time and energy. It means that you set aside time every day to simply draw closer to God. To delight in God does not mean that you are jumping through a set of prescribed hoops in order to obtain a blessing from God. God is not a robot. Just because you saw results from God once, does not mean that if you follow the exact same procedures you will automatically be entitled to the same benefits.

You must remember that God knows your thoughts and motives. God does not honor those who treat HIM like Santa Clause. You must remember that God is more concerned about your heart. God brings affliction into your life to draw you closer to HIM. God desires that you take the time to learn to delight in HIM. To truly delight in God means that you are learning to love HIM without any expectation of receiving anything in return other than a closer relationship with your Maker and Creator.

To delight in God, you must long for a closer relationship with God. It means that you read HIS word not out of obligation but because you desire to hear HIS still small voice. To delight in God means that you start spending more time thanking God for the things that HE has done for you than you spend making requests.

You must have the right perspective of God. Before the fall, God had a close relationship with Adam. Adam did not need to ask God for anything because God had already provided everything for him. Adam was able to just simply have fellowship with God. However, after sin entered this world, sinful man could not have the same close relationship with God. When Jesus came to this world, HE lived a sinless life and you see that HE constantly was talking with God for the simple point of having fellowship with God. God desires that you conform into the image of HIS Son. This means that you must develop a personal relationship with God that goes beyond a five-minute devotion.

You must transform your whole way of thinking if you are going to learn to delight in God. You must learn to start thinking on the things of God rather than the things of this world. To delight in God does not mean that you think about houses, cars, jobs, and riches. To delight in God means that you add virtue to your life and you spend your time putting the things of God first in your life. If God is not first, why should HE give you the desires of your heart?

Psalms 25:4 Show me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.

Have you ever been at a fork in the road and wondered which way was God’s best for you? Have you ever cried out to God for direction in your life? Have you ever longed for God to show HIMSELF strong in your life? God desires to be your guide. You do not importuned God when you ask HIM to reveal HIS direction for your life.

There are two characteristics that are mentioned in this Psalm that God expects in order for HIM to teach the way. In verse nine, we learn that “The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.” In verse twelve we learn “What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.”

You ask God for guidance but are you a meek individual? What does it mean to be meek? To be meek means to be humble, lowly and gentle of mind. It means you cannot think more highly of yourself then you ought. To be meek, you must understand who God is and you must be willing to make HIM number one in your life.

You ask God for guidance but do you fear HIM? What does it mean to fear the Lord? To fear the Lord means to be reverent. Jesus taught that you are not to fear man that can kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead HE commanded you to fear HIM who can destroy both the body and the soul. (Matthew 10:28). You must understand that God knows your every thought, word and deed and you will be accountable to HIM. To fear the Lord means that you understand who God is and you live your life in such a way that is pleasing to HIM.

Abraham’s servant was commanded by Abraham to find a wife for Isaac. Abraham’s servant cried out to God for direction and God heard him and made his way prosperous. Abraham’s servant did not rely upon his own strength in order to find a wife for Isaac, instead he humbled himself before God and asked God to give him direction. Abraham’s servant understood God’s power on this earth and understood how God desired to show HIMSELF strong in the life of Abraham.

An important lesson to learn from this story is how the servant responded when God revealed that Rebekah was the one. Abraham’s servant immediately worshiped God. Furthermore, he was quick to acknowledge God for directing his path. He was not proud that God directed him; instead he was humble in giving God the praise.

It is good to cry out to God for direction in your life but maybe before you do you should do a quick spiritual checkup of your life. Maybe you should see if there is any pride in your life that might prevent God from directing your path. Maybe you should see if there are any ways that you are allowing the peer pressure of man to guide your decisions rather than placing God as the center of your attention.

God is willing to show HIMSELF strong in your life by giving you the direction that you need. However, if you desire God to teach you HIS way for your life, you must change your mindset. No longer can you think on whatever you want, instead you must add virtue to your life and live your life in a way that is pleasing to God. Humble yourself before God; learn to understand HIS power and develop a healthy fear of God.

1 John 5:14-15 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

In this passage we see a very important promise, if we make a request in accordance with God’s will, then God hears us. More importantly, if you know that God hears you, God will give you your petition. Thus, if you desire to have God answer your prayers, then you must first take the time to understand God’s will for your life. Jesus confirmed this principle of prayer and the will of God when He taught us “Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.” (John 9:31).

Jesus taught in the Lord’s Prayer that you are to pray “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10). How can you pray that God’s will be done if you have not first taken the time to understand God’s will for your life?

Jesus not only taught that we were to pray “thy will be done” but he also demonstrated it in His life. When Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, He said “O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.” (Matthew 26:42). Jesus understood that He was not here on this earth to do His own will but to do the will of God. Jesus said “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” (John 5:30).

The word “will” as found in these passages is from the Greek word thelema. According to Thayer Greek Definitions, thelema means “what God wishes to be done by us, commands, precepts”. Thelma’s secondary definition according to Thayer is “will, choice, inclination, desire, pleasure”.

When Jesus was in the temple, the chief priests and the elders asked Jesus by what authority He did things. After asking a question about John the Baptist that the religious leaders chose not to answer lest they be caught in their own deception, Jesus told a story about a man and his two sons. The man asked his two sons to work with him in the vineyard that day. The first son refused to work but later repented and worked in the vineyard while the second son agreed to work but when the time came was absent. Jesus then asked the religious leaders a question, “whether of them twain did the will of his father?” (Matthew 21:31). After the religious leaders agreed that it was the first son who did the will of the father.

From this story that Jesus told to the religious leaders, we learn that God is not going to make us do His will. He is going to make His will known to you, but that it is up to you to actually obey His will. You can tell God you are going to do His will, but God is looking at your actions and it is your actions that will determined if you are living your life according to God’s will.

To emphasize this point, during the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21). God is looking at your actions to determine if you are doing His will here on this earth.

God has made it clear that He desires you to do His will. Throughout scripture, God mentions many things that are His will. As you study scripture, look for those things that God says are His will and then do them.

1. Believe

John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

The most important part of doing the will of God is choosing to become a servant of God rather than remaining a slave of this world. God sent His only Son into the world to die for your sins. All He asks of you is that you believe. This is His will – believe on Him. If you do not believe, then you are not doing the will of God.

2. Be not conformed to this world

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

It is God’s will that you do not allow the world to dictate your behavior but instead that you set your mind upon the things of God and allow God to transform you. The word transformed as used in this verse is used in the story when Jesus took Peter, James and John up into the mountains and was transfigured before them.

God desires that you make a drastic change. It is His will that you renew your mind. In Philippians 4:8 Paul tells us that “whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

It is the will of God that you be different; that your life be an example to those around you of the light of God. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus commanded us that “You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:14) He went on to say that men do not hid the light but commanded us to “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16).

It is the will of God that you do not let the things of this world conform you but that you allow Him to use you to transform the world.

3. Cause not others to stumble

Matthew 18:14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

In this passage Jesus is teaching the importance of removing those things from your life that might cause you to stumble. Jesus said that “it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.” (Matthew 18:8).

Jesus then went on to stress the importance that not only is it important that you do not cause yourself to stumble but that you also avoid causing others to stumble. It is not the will of God that you cause another to stumble. Paul reinforced the teaching of Jesus when he said “It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.” (Romans 14:21). Paul reasoning was that we were to edify one another.

It is the will of God that you are careful in your actions that you do not do anything that causes another to stumble. God has placed people in your life and you must be careful that there is nothing in your life that causes them to doubt and draw away from God.

4. Abstain from fornication

1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor.

It is God’s will that abstain from sexual pleasures outside the marriage relationship. God created the sexual relationship to be enjoyed between a husband and a wife. God told us that “your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you” (1 Corinthians 6:19). God desires that you keep your body holy by abstaining from sexual sins.

5. Give thanks to God

1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

It does not matter what happens to you, God desires that you thank Him for it. It is God’s will that you have the attitude of Job who was able to say “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21).

Peter warns you may suffer even though you are doing the will of God. Peter says “let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.” (1 Peter 4:19). Peter was faithful in doing the will of God yet he found himself in prison. While God rescued Peter from prison, there came a day when Peter had to suffer and die as a result of doing the will of God. God was glorified through Peter’s suffering.

You must understand that you are the clay and He is the potter. God is trying to mold you and prepare you for His perfect work. You are like gold that must be put into the fire several times in order to be pure and of great value. God allows storms to come into your life so as to prepare you to do HIS good will. If you refuse to give thanks for both the good and the evil things that occur in your life, you are failing to do God’s will and thus restricting God’s ability to hear and answer your prayers.

6. Be wise in your behavior

Ephesians 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

After this verse Paul lists eight things that you should do. In doing these eight things you will be doing the will of God. If you decide not to follow God�’ will in any of these areas, you are in danger of hindering God from hearing your prayers.

A. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; (Ephesians 5:18)

B. Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; (Ephesians 5:19)

C. Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; (Ephesians 5:20)

D. Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. (Ephesians 5:21)

E. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. (Ephesians 5:22)

F. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it. (Ephesians 5:25)

G. Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. (Ephesians 6:1)

H. Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; (Ephesians 6:5-6)

God has not hidden His will from you. He has made His will clear to all who will but look. Seek and you shall find. Now that you know what God’s will is for your life, what are you going to do about it? Remember that “the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” (1 John 2:17).

As you learn to apply God’s will to your life, you should also follow the example of Paul who did “not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:9-10). Not only should you walk in God’s will but you should pray and encourage others to walk in God’s will also.

If you feel that God is not hearing your prayers, look carefully at this list of items and see if there is any way in your life that you are failing to abide by God’s perfect will? If there is, repent and change your ways so that you once again start living according to His standards for your life.

James 4:2 yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

In this passage you see a very important element of prayer, asking. In Matthew 7:7 Jesus told you “Ask, and it shall be given you”. He went on to say in verse 8 “For every one that asketh receiveth”. Christ taught the importance of asking when HE promised you in Matthew 21:22 “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”

It is important to ask, but just as important in asking is making sure you are asking for the right thing. James went on to tell you in verse 3 “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” Thus it is not only important that you ask but that you ask for the right thing. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus analogized our relationship with God to that of a son asking his father for bread. Jesus explained that a father would not give his son a rock when he asked for bread. Jesus then said in Matthew 7:11 “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”

Prayer is an important tool that you have as a Christian. In Ephesians 6, Paul speaks about the armor of God. Paul mentions only two offensive weapons, the word of God and prayer. Paul tells you that you are to be “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints”.

Prayer changes things. However, if you are going to change the world, then you need to learn how to pray. Jesus taught you how to pray when HE showed the pattern of prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. However, you must remember that the words in the Lord’s Prayer are an outline for how you are to pray. Praying the Lord’s Prayer in vain repetition is not pleasing to the Lord. In fact, just before Jesus taught HIS’ disciples in what manner they were to pray, HE warned them by saying “when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.” (Matthew 6:7).

In the Lord’s prayer, Jesus laid out six elements that should be apart of your prayer life. The six elements that should be in your prayers are as follows: praise to God, yielding to God’s will for your life, ask for provision, ask for forgiveness, ask for deliverance from temptation, and then return to giving God the glory.

Jesus started the Lord’s Prayer by saying “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” (Matthew 6:9). The word “hallowed” here means to make holy, purify or consecrate. You have a duty to God to sing forth HIS praises. Once when the Pharisees tried to have Jesus rebuke those who were singing HIS’ praises, Jesus replied “if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.” (Luke 19:40).

When Solomon was dedicating the temple to the Lord, he started out his prayer by saying “Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart” (I Kings 8:23). Solomon understood the importance of giving God the glory. Solomon had seen the glory of the Lord and his heart just naturally sang forth the Lord’s praises when he prayed.

The night that Solomon was given a blank check by God to ask whatever he wanted, Solomon had started that night by offering a thousand burnt offerings. There was nothing in the law of Moses that required Solomon to make a thousand burnt offerings unto the Lord but Solomon did so because he desired to bring honor to God’s name. Because Solomon sought to honor the Lord, the Lord desired to exalt Solomon and HE gave Solomon that which he asked for.

The second element of the Lord’s Prayer that needs to be implemented into your prayer life is that of yielding your rights to God. Jesus taught “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10). Jesus not only taught the principle of praying the Lord’s will be done but HE actually lived it. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” (Matthew 26:39).

Jesus was able to pray that the Lord’s will be done in HIS’ life because Jesus understood what the Lord’s will was. One of the most powerful prayers that you can pray as a Christian is one in which you are praying that God fulfill HIS will in your life. David actually prayed this prayer when he prayed “Therefore now, Lord let the thing that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant and concerning his house be established for ever, and do as thou hast said.” (1 Chronicles 17:23).

Do you want to see your faith grow, then simply start taking the time to understand God’s will for your life and start praying God will fulfill HIS plan. When Abimelech was cursed for taking Sarah, Abraham’s wife, God told Abimelech to have Abraham pray for him. Abraham prayed according to God’s direction for Abimelech and the curse was lifted from Abimelech’s household. The same thing occurred in Job’s life. God told Eliphaz, Eildad and Zophar that HIS’ wrath was kindled against them (Job 42:7). God told them to have Job pray for them. In the case of both Abraham and Job, the will of God was made known, all they had to do was pray that the Lord’s will be done and their faith was increased.

Samuel was once faced with a difficult problem, the people desired a king. Samuel came before the Lord regarding the Lord’s will for Israel to have a king (1 Samuel 8:6). God showed to Samuel what HIS’ will was regarding Israel having a king. Because Samuel understood the will of God, Samuel was able to anoint Saul as the first king of Israel. Samuel’s obedience to God’s will was directly connected to his understanding of what God’s will for his life was.

If you do not understand what God’s will is for your life, then you need to ask God for direction. How can you come to God in prayer yielding your life to do HIS will if you have not first ascertained HIS’ will for your life? “For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Matthew 7:8).

The third element of prayer that you need to implement into your prayer life is the requesting for daily provision. Jesus taught that you were to pray “Give us this day our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11). You are not a self-made man; you cannot live on this earth with your own strength. You need to learn that all things come from God and that you need to cry out to HIM for your daily provision.

Your daily provision is more than just food. In Matthew 6:31 Jesus commands us to “take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? Or, What shall we drink? Or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?” Instead you are commanded to “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33).

Rather than worry about those things that you think you have need of, you need to take them to the Lord in prayer. Hannah and Rachel both desired children however their response to their need for children differed greatly. Hannah “was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore.” (1 Samuel 1:10). Hannah turned her request over to God and God heard her prayer and gave her the desire of her heart. Rachel on the other hand did not turn to the Lord and instead she came to Jacob her husband and “said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.” (Genesis 30:1).

Asking for the Lord to provide is an important part of your prayer life. King Asa had the Ethiopian army coming against him. Asa “cried unto the Lord his God, and said, Lord, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O Lord our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude.” (2 Chronicles 14:11). Asa understood that deliverance would come from God. Because Asa cried out to God, God showed HIMSELF strong in the life of Asa.

However, later on in Asa’s life, he relied upon his own strength and did not cry out to God to provide his daily substance. God was disappointed with Asa and sent Hanani the seer to remind Asa that “the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9).

The fourth element that needs to be apart of your prayers is to ask forgiveness for your violations of God’s perfect law. Jesus taught you that you are to pray “forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12). David is a good example to us of how we are to have a repentant heart. David was always quick to come to God and seek the Lord’s mercy when David saw that he had sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

However, if you study prayer, not only do you have an obligation to confess your own sins, but you will notice that many great men confessed the sins of the people. When Daniel prayed in Daniel 9, you learn that Daniel started his prayer by making confession. Daniel prayed “We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled” (Daniel 9:5).

Nehemiah also confessed the sins of the nation of Israel when he had heard that the walls of Jerusalem were broken down. Nehemiah prayed “I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee, both I and my father’s house have sinned.” (Nehemiah 1:6). Ezra also had a similar experience when he rent his garments and prayed “I am ashamed … for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.” (Ezra 9:6).

Yes, it is important for you to confess your own sins to God, but it is also important that you intercede on behalf of the nation that God has placed you in. Moses often interceded with God on behalf of the nation of Israel, why shouldn’t you pray for those whom God has placed in your life that they will see the iniquity of their sin?

The fifth element of prayer that is often overlooked is that you are to pray that God will deliver you from temptation. Jesus taught you to pray “lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13). How many trials and temptations would you avoid if you simply asked God to give you the strength to avoid falling short of God’s perfect law.

Everyone likes to pray Jabez’ prayer. They fall in love with the concept of praying for God to bless them and to enlarge their borders. However, Jabez also prayed that the Lord “wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me!” (1 Chronicles 4:10). Jabez understood the consequences of violating God’s perfect law and it was his desire that he live a life pleasing unto the Lord. If he sinned, God would have to punish him and the consequences of God’s punishment would be grievous.

God has promised that “There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able” (1 Corinthians 10:13). God has given you the ability to avoid the temptation of sin. However, if you are not willing to take the time to ask God to deliver you from sin, why should you be surprised when you find your spirit willing but your flesh week.

The sixth element of prayer as taught to you in the Lord’s Prayer is another element of praise to God. Jesus understood that it is our natural human reaction to simply ask for those things that we desire. However, you need to become God focused with your prayers and as such, Jesus taught that you should end your prayers with another session of praising God. Jesus taught “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.” (Matthew 6:13).

Daniel was faced with a decree that he was not allowed to pray for 30 days. Daniel may have been a captive in Babylon but when Daniel prayed, he “gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.” (Daniel 6:10). Daniel understood that God was in control and as such, Daniel was not afraid of the king’s decree. Daniel praised God because God deserved to hear Daniel’s praises.

The question then arises how often is one to pray. Paul taught that you are to “pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Jesus told a parable in Luke 18 about a widow who desired to be avenged of her enemies. The widow was persistent and eventually the judge granted her request. Jesus asked whether when HE returned whether he would “find faith on the earth.” (Luke 18:8). It is clear that Christ expects HIS’ followers to be faithful in prayer especially since they know how they are supposed to pray.

James tells us that Elijah “was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.” (James 5:17-18). Elijah understood the importance of earnest prayer. Scripture shows us that Elijah had to pray seven times for it to rain again. Elijah knew that it was the Lord’s will for it to rain, but seven times Elijah had to send his servant to go look and see if the Lord had answered his prayer yet. (I Kings 18:41-46).

Prayer is a time when you seek God’s face. It is not a time where you seek the praises of man. Jesus warned that “when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” (Matthew 6:6). Jesus is not saying that every time you pray your prayers must be in secret. While there were times in Jesus’ life where HE went up onto a mountain alone to pray, there were two specific times where Jesus brought Peter, James and John with HIM to pray with HIM.

The important thing is that you have a right attitude with God. The purpose of your prayer should be to talk with God, it should not be to reveal to others your spirituality. Jesus told another parable about a Pharisee who stood up to pray in the temple and expounded to God all his virtues. Jesus told us that “for every one that exaleth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” (Luke 18:14).

If you feel that God is not hearing your prayers, it might be important to examine your prayer life. Solomon tells us that the Lord “heareth the prayer of the righteous.” (Proverbs 15:29). However, Solomon warns that “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.” (Proverbs 28:9). Thus if you are not willing to hear God’s will for your life, do not be surprised when God does not answer your prayers.

Paul instructed Timothy that “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.” (1 Timothy 2:8). It is important to understand that if anger is in your heart, your prayers will be hindered. Jesus taught that “if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.” (Matthew 5:23-24).

In addition to ensuring that your conscience is clear of anger, you must also approach your prayer without doubt. You must be like Abraham’s servant who was willing to ask God a very specific prayer in what the young virgin had to do in order to qualify as the Lord’s chosen to be Isaac’s wife. Abraham’s servant did not doubt God’s ability to answer specific prayer because he had seen God answer prayers for his master Abraham. Because he did not doubt, Abraham’s servant had a powerful testimony of seeing God work through him.

In 1 Peter 3:7, Peter instructs husbands to “dwell with them [their wives] according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.” God made the husband and wife one, if husbands were not loving “their wives as their own bodies” then they were not one with their wife and Peter was warning that this would have a consequences upon the man’s prayer life. Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman with God, if man does not honor his relationship with his wife, he is not honoring God and thus his prayers will suffer.

Prayer will change your life. When Jesus prayed “the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.” (Luke 9:29). When Moses spoke with God “the skin of his face shone” (Exodus 34:30).

The New Testament church understood the importance of prayer. When Herod put Peter in prison, “prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.” (Acts 12:5). God worked a miracle that night and allowed Peter to walk free. The church saw first hand the power of prayer because they joined together to intercede to God on behalf of Peter.

The disciples had walked with Jesus and they understood the importance of prayer. As the church grew, murmuring arose because the widows were being neglected. The disciples appointed seven men to serve the Lord while they continued to “give ourselves continually to prayer” (Acts 6:4). The church was growing because the disciples understood that prayer had to be a priority. The disciples were faithful in their prayers and God was faithful in using them to expand HIS’ church here on this earth.

You may not always know how to pray but “the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” (Romans 8:26). It is not all about you, you must always remember that “your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” (Matthew 6:8).

It is time for you to come to God in prayer. It is time that you humble yourself and ask HIM to show HIMSELF strong in your life. It is time that you seek the Lord’s will for your life so that God can increase your faith as you see HIM answer your prayers. You have not because you ask not. It is time for you to learn how to ask God to give you the desires of your heart.

Psalms 18:1-2 I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

Four times in this Psalm David refers to God as his strength. In verse 32 David prays “It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.” In verse 39 he prays “For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle”. David understood that apart from God he could do nothing. It was God through him that enabled him to defeat Goliath. It was God through him that enabled him to defeat the enemies of Israel. David is not taking credit for those things that God has done through him.

What have you been able to do on your own? Think of a little baby. No one expects a little baby to get up and start providing for itself within minutes of birth. That baby relies upon others to provide, protect and guide it in the way that it should go. It is when that baby starts growing up and starts relying upon its own strength that it can bring trouble upon its own life.

God desires that you have the faith of a little child. HE desires that you allow God to be your strength just as a baby allows its parents to be its strength. Naturally, it is so much easier to yield to others when you do not have the strength. David, is an example to you of one who could have taken great credit for his own strength yet determined in his heart that God would be first.

David had seen God do many wonderful things through him, yet he still acknowledged God’s power in his life. David did not rely upon his own strength but instead, he allowed himself to be like a little child and allowed God to provide, protect and direct him in the way he should go. God was David’s strength.

When Nicodemus came to Jesus by night, Jesus told him that “except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3) Jesus went on to say “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5). Jesus was teaching the importance of developing a new relationship with God, a relationship in which you place all your trust in God. A relationship in which you allow God as your Abba Father to provide, protect and direct your steps.

Have you wondered why God may not be answering some of your prayers? You constantly remind God of HIS promises in which HE tells you that you have not because you ask not. Maybe God is not granting your request because HE knows that you have not put all your strength in HIM? Maybe HE knows that you are proud and that you are going to take the credit for what HE does in your life?

You cannot add virtue to your life by your own strength. The temptations of this world are too strong for you to overcome them on your own. If you desire to be all that you can be for God, you are going to have to be like David and learn to trust completely in HIM. You are going to have to allow God’s strength to fill you. It is only by God’s strength that you will be able to think upon those things that are pleasing to God. It is only by God’s strength that you will experience the victory of adding virtue to your life.

Psalms 17:15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I will be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

It is David’s prayer to be in the presence of God. It is David’s desire that when the world sees him, they see the Lord. Is the prayer of David your prayer? Are you living your life pursuing the things of God or are you simply pursuing what seems right in your own eyes. David had a heart after God’s own heart because it was his desire to pursue God.

The Hebrew word that is translated “face” in this verse is also translated as “presence” in Genesis 3:8. In Genesis, you learn of Adam and Eve’s response when they recognized one of the consequences of their sin was nakedness. In Genesis 3:8, you learn that when Adam and Eve heard the voice of God, they hid themselves from HIS presence.

God is a righteous God. You can be like David who pursued the presence of God, or you can be like Adam and Eve who attempted to hide from God’s presence. All have sinned; no one can say that they have lived a perfect life. You recognize that sin in your life illuminates your unrighteousness and God’s righteousness. However, rather than be like Adam and Eve and hide from God’s righteousness, you need to be like David who pursued the face of God.

David’s desire was to be seen in the likeness of God. When you pursue God like David did, it cannot help but change your life. In Exodus 33 and 34, you see that Moses spoke with God face to face. As a result, his skin shown so bright that the people required Moses to place a veil over his face. The people were afraid of Moses.

God can change your life in ways that you never imagined. However, you must have a heart like David’s heart, a heart that desires to put God first in your life. You cannot be satisfied with simply getting along. Instead, it must be your desire to seek God and not let go until HE gives you that which you requested. Just as Jacob was not willing to stop wrestling with God until God blessed him, so David refused to stop pursuing God’s presence until David awoke in God’s likeness.

“Ye have not, because ye ask not.” (James 4:2). Maybe God has not shown HIMSELF strong in your life because you have been unwilling to put God to the test in your life. Maybe God has not changed you because while you sing about God changing you, deep down in your heart, you do not fully desire to yield yourself completely to HIS will. God desires to have all of you. God desires that you have a heart like David’s heart – a desire to pursue God. Until you are willing to pray the prayer of David as found in this Psalm, you are not ready for God to use you to do great things for HIM.

Virtue is putting on the mind of Christ. It is changing your thoughts from the things of this world to pursuing the things of God. You must pursue the face of God. Rather than allow Satan to use your violations of God’s perfect law to drive you away from God, use your violations of God’s law to compare yourself with God and cause you to seek God’s righteousness in your life. The guilt from your sin should be so strong that you should desire to be more like God so that your conscience can have peace with God. Are you ready for God to change your life, then change your thinking and start pursuing God?

Psalms 16:11 Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Do you desire direction for your life? Do you long to be filled with joy? Do you yearn to enjoy life not only in heaven for eternity but also while you are here on this earth? If so, then the answer is found in God. God is the One who can show you the way you should go. God is the One who can fill your life with joy. God is the One who created both heavenly and earthly pleasures and it is from HIS hand that you can receive them.

If you try to find direction without first seeking God’s direction, than you will be no different the nation of Israel when they insisted in entering the promise land after God told them they were going to wonder for 40 years. There is no such thing as a small decision; you must be willing to be led of God. Rebekah made a seemingly small decision to give a man who asked her a drink of water a drink. Because she also volunteered to water his camels, Rebekah became the wife of Isaac.

You will sometimes not even think of asking God for HIS opinion regarding a small decision that you face. You think it is too small to bother God with it. However, if it is important to you, how much more important is it to God. You are told that you are more valuable than a sparrow. God cares for you, and HE is willing to show you the way. You must however first be willing for HIM to show you the way. You must be willing to yield your desires in order to follow HIS direction for your life. God will not always lead the way that you first imagined, but God will direct your steps.

It does not matter what is going on around, God can still give you abundant joy. Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines joy as “a delight of mind, from consideration of the present or assured approaching possession of good.” Life can seem to be bad this present moment, but it does not mean that God cannot give you joy. David was constantly on the run for his life for many years, yet through the Psalms you hear his heart sing forth great joy because he trusted in God and he knew that God’s promise to him was that one day it would be worth it all.

Seek forth the Lord’s presence for it is in HIS presence that you will find joy. If you are looking for joy from the things of this world, you will be easily shaken. Instead, if you put your focus upon God and daily seek HIS face, then HE can give you the peace that passeth all understanding, HE can give you job unspeakable.

There are many pleasures of this world that God desires that you enjoy. HE has made us each different so the things that give you pleasure may be different than what gives someone else pleasure. The pleasures you enjoy on this earth are a gift from God. Do not allow the pleasures to take the place of God in your life. Instead, understand that they are a gift from HIM. Use the pleasures as a reminder to thank HIM for HIS goodness.

It is time to change your focus on life. It is time to put on the mind of Christ. It is time to set your mind in order and to think on those things that are pleasing to God. You will never have the right perspective on life if you do not add virtue to your life. As you learn to seek God, God will open the doors for you to receive direction, joy and pleasures.

Psalms 10:17 LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:

What is the desire of your heart? What is the key to receiving the desire of your heart? The key is humility. The Lord hears the voice of those who are humble before HIM. You know that God gives grace to the humble but HE resists the proud. You know that you are to delight yourself in the Lord and HE will give you the desires of your heart. However, you cannot delight yourself in the Lord because you desire something from HIM. Instead, you must delight yourself before God with a humble heart.

When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, their sin was a sin of pride. They desired to be like God. Adam and Eve had everything but they wanted more. They were not content with how God made them and the position that HE bestowed upon them. Because they did not accept God’s ultimate authority in their lives, they questioned HIS direction and lost all that they had.

If God desired, you could die today. Life and death is in the hands of God. King Hezekiah was told he was going to die. Hezekiah’s desire was to live and continue to rule in Jerusalem. Hezekiah humbled himself and pleaded with God that God would heal him. God heard Hezekiah’s prayer and HE granted him the desires of HIS heart.

In this Psalm you are told that God will prepare the heart of the humble. Think of your heart as a field. God desires that your heart be a fertile field that bears much fruit. If your heart is full of pride, it is like a dry hard field, it will take a lot of work to break it up to prepare it for planting. If your heart is humble, it means your field is soft and pliable, ready for God to use you to do great things for HIM.

God brings humbling situations into your life to break you. HE knows what you need long before you ever asked HIM. God longs to give you those things that you ask for but HE needs to know that you are not going to consume your request upon yourself, HE needs to know that it is your desire to be used of HIM to show the world HIS power.

Examine your heart. What is its condition? Is it full of pride? Are you asking things of God so that you can consume them upon yourself? God needs you to be humble. God needs you to be soft and pliable, ready to be used of HIM wherever HE desires. If you are full of pride, start preparing yourself for God to humble you. God is not going to allow HIS children to be unproductive. God needs to humble you so that HE can use you. God’s light will properly reflect through the lives of those who understand their position with God. When your heart is humble, then you are ready to ask God for those things that are necessary to expand your ministry here on this earth.

It is not easy keeping your mind upon the things of God. However, if you continue to add virtue to your life, you allow God to continue to work in your life so that you remain humble. Humility is the key to receiving the desires of your heart. Humility is the key to having God hear your prayers. If your heart is right before God, God will hear your prayers and HE will continue to work with you to draw you closer to HIM. Virtue will enable you to realize that the trials you face today are God’s tool for keeping you humble.