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How to Change the Way You Pray

How to Change the Way You Pray

If you had an open invitation from God to ask for absolutely anything at all, what would you ask for?

Would you ask for a flourishing business, fame, more money, a romantic partner, more influence or perhaps a baby?

“Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations as Your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth as Your possession.” – Psalm 2:8

Are you also struck by something in this verse? God says to ask Him for the nations?

Why do a lot of us feel comfortable asking God for help on an exam, but we don’t dare ask Him to increase our influence to reach beyond our own country for example?

Here’s four reasons you have to ask for much more:

1) God’s nature is to love, and He loves to give

We still often try and make sense of God by thinking in human terms.

Let’s say I asked someone for a ridiculous amount of money. Even if they could easily afford to give it away, they would still think that I’m being very forward and even arrogant by simply asking. How can someone have the audacity to ask that?

God’s nature is nothing like normal human nature. He doesn’t get offended when we ask boldly for something. God’s nature is to love and to give:

“For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son…” – John 3:16

2) It honors God’s power

Would you ask The Hulk to open a pickle jar? We all know that He is much stronger than that. Asking him to open a jar doesn’t show off his ability. In the same way, asking God for small things does not honor His greatness.

God’s power is not honored by you just asking for a parking spot. He is honored by requests that make a demand on His power. What is impossible with man, is possible with God.

He shows His strength when we ask for the seemingly impossible: 

“He has declared and shown to His people the power of His works in giving them the heritage of the nations” – Ps 111:6

3) God has unlimited resources

As humans we normally feel that when someone ask or take from us that we have less or are somehow depleted. We have limited resources and have less for ourselves when we give. God owns the world and everything in it. He doesn’t have limited resources and He can give without any limit at all.

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” – Psalm 24:1

4) Being content and being satisfied is not the same thing

Many people struggle with a very religious mindset that might make asking for something seem selfish. We know that we should be content, but does that mean we should be satisfied? In other words, should we settle for what we have now?

I’d like to argue the opposite. A lot of believers feel that it’s holy to say: “I’m thankful for what I have. I have enough to support and provide for myself and my family. I don’t need anything else.” Gratitude is good, but we should always be willing to pray that we could become more effective in our service to others.

“External religious worship that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world.” – James 1:27

Christianity has always been and will always be about other people. God wants to give us abundance (in time, influence or even wealth), so that we can  meet the needs of people who don’t necessarily have their needs meant. It’s not only about us.

So here’s the question that Jesus asked of a blind man calling after him:

“And Jesus said to him, What do you want Me to do for you? And the blind man said to Him, Master, let me receive my sight.” – Mark 10:51

So, what do you want Him to do for you? And, as long as you are praying in accordance with his will, honor His greatness, power and wonderful nature of love by asking big.

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