Keep On Praying

 As we continue in the teachings of Jesus, we renew our minds today about talking to God in prayer. He said earlier to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you." The Father already knows what we need, but just like in any other relationship, He wants us to interact with Him by talking to Him in prayer. It is so amazing that we can talk to God everyday at any given time. So that is what today's text focuses on.

Matthew 7:7-11 NIV

[7] “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. [8] For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. [9] “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? [10] Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? [11] If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Whatever we need, desire, or ask from God, He hears us and will do what is best for us, His children. So here, Jesus is saying be persistent and keep asking and God will give us good gifts. He will work things out for good for those that love Him.

Romans 8:28 NIV

[28] And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 

We just have faith and trust God with our requests. Believe He has already done it and it will happen, IN HIS TIME, not ours. Be patient and wait on Him to make it happen. Never lose hope. "Believe you have received it and it will be yours." Jesus said.

Mark 11:22-24 NIV

[22]  “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. [23] “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. [24] Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

The main thing here is to have a constant relationship and dialogue with our Heavenly Father everyday. Know that we can talk to Him with boldness and confidence everyday because we are in Christ.

If we lack confidence to ask, James says we do not have because we do not ask. So just ask anyway!!

James 4:2b. NIV

[2b.] ...You do not have because you do not ask.

So talk to God all the time in prayer. Ask and keep on asking. He will give us good gifts and all we need, as we seek Him everyday. Have faith, trust in God, be patient, and then watch Him work in our lives.

Love you all dear readers,

Jeffrey Post

PS- Other passages:

1 John 3:18-23 NIV

[18] Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. [19] This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: [20] If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. [21] Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God [22] and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. [23] And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.

1 John 5:14-15 NIV

[14] This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. [15] And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

James 1:5-7 NIV

[5] If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. [6] But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. [7] That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 

James 5:13-16 NIV

[13] Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. [14] Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. [15] And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. [16] Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Proverbs 8:17 NIV

[17] I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV

[11] For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. [12] Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. [13] You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.