What do you think? Maybe you feel like me. Yes, I believe that Christians can ask God to bless them … but I do not do this enough because I feel guily for even thinking about it. Therefore, since my flesh is incapable of answering this, let’s go to the source. God’s Word!
1 Chronicles 4:10 (ESV)
Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked.
If you have not read The Prayer of Jabez, you should give it a read some time. Very enlightening on this subject.
The story of Jabez is very short. 1 Chronicles 4:9 – 10 is it. His name – in the Hebrew language – sounds like the same word they use for pain. We read his prayer in the first part of verse 10. But the best part is the last part … “And God granted what he asked.” Jabez asked to be blessed … and God said OK!!! Don’t miss that.
And do not forget about Solomon. He asked for wisdom and received it. However … the important thing to grasp here is this:
1 Kings 3:5 (ESV)
At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.”
GOD TOLD HIM TO ASK!!!!
Now, let’s read through quite a few (not all) scriptures from the New Testament related to our asking God for things.
Matthew 7:7 – 8 (ESV)
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
Matthew 7:11 (ESV)
If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
Matthew 21:22 (ESV)
And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.
John 14:13 (ESV)
Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
John 15:16 (ESV)
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
John 16:23 (ESV)
In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.
So, you may be asking … “where’s the catch?” Well, there is a “catch”, but I do not view it as a “catch.” Let me try to explain …
Matthew 6:33 (ESV)
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
God tells us to SEEK HIM FIRST … and then, He will meet all of our needs. This is true with all of our asking. We first need to align ourselves with God’s Will (Check Knowing God’s Will??? for a little more info on that.)
Here’s why I do not view this as a catch.
God is omniscient … ALL KNOWING!
God is omnipresent … EVERYWHERE AT ONCE!
God is omnipotent … ALL POWERFUL!
And God’s love for me is described with the Greek word Agape. This means He loves me more than I could ever imagine or even love myself.
So, we have a God who loves us more than anything we can imagine – which means he wants what is best for us, we have a God who knows everything, we have a God who sees everything, and we have a God who is able to do anything because He is all powerful … it only makes sense that I would want the things He wants me to have because those things will be what is best for me.
So … yes, we can – AND SHOULD – ask God to bless us. We should seek to be in line with His will and pray as He leads us to pray.
Here’s the tough part.
Be ready to receive!
This is where we seem to go wrong. We allow our guilt or pride or whatever to lead us to say NO to God’s blessings. It’s kind of like Granny combined with Bill Gates (loving and rich) wanting to give you $20 and you saying … “No thanks Granny!” Just take the $20 and be grateful!
The reason we do not receive is because we do not ask.
John 16:24 (ESV)
Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
Hope this helps someone!
Go with God,
Donald B
I can relate to the monkey’s expression.
I believe that in James it says something like “You have not because you ask not…” So yes, I ask for blessings in certain areas all the time. What do we have to lose? God may say “No” or He may say nothing at all. It’s worth it to at least ask.
Donald,
I feel that we (Christians) can most definitely ask for Gods blessings. The scriptures are clear in pointing that out. Our pastor once told a story about two farmers who both asked God for rain. One farmer sat on his porch and waited. The other farmer went out and prepared his fields for the rain. Which one do you think got the rain? At the same time you have got to be prepared for whatever answer He gives.
-Erik
I was looking for that verse in James … but for some reason it slipped my grasp.
Thanks Cumby!
Erik … have you seen the movie “Facing the Giants.” There’s a man in there that tells that same farmer story to the coach. We showed it at our church … and that story has motivated us to be ready for God’s outpouring on our church (even in the simple things like putting out another row of chairs and waiting for God to send the people in.
Go with God,
Donald B
[...] “Can Christians ask God to bless them?” [...]
Cumby: God may say “No” or He may say nothing at all. It’s worth it to at least ask.
2 Cor 1:18-20
18 But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.” 20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. NIV
The Bible is pretty clear about what God’s will is for our lives. I call it His general will. Then I believe He has a specific will for our lives (where to work, personal calling, etc.). But everything in God’s Word that is His will for our lives comes with a “yes.”
If it already comes with a “yes” then maybe we need to stop asking and start thanking Him. It’s a provision. We are entitled to it because God said so and/or because Jesus paid the price for it.
I don’t live my life asking for God to bless me. I am already blessed. When I take that position I find I’m not trying to get something to happen that already has. I don’t live looking at the cross, I live looking at the resurrection. (Whew, that’s going to make somebody mad.) It was a two-part plan. Without the resurrection, Jesus would have died like the other thieves and we’d be headed to hell in a handbasket.
Because of the cross AND the resurrection we have the joy of knowing when we ask anything according to His will He hears us and His answer is ALWAYS yes.
Cumby … great insight. I agree with the resurrection comment. I’ve often angered people because I tell them I do not really appreciate the crosses with Jesus on them because the Jesus I serve is not on a cross. I’m thankful for what He did on the cross, but He’s alive!
I also agree that we should begin thanking God for how He is going to provide. However, I think there is a process that God wants us to take in asking … probably a lot to do with humility or something like that.
Thanks for the input!
Donald B
WOW I just love your posts Donald!
I can learn from them wiht all the scriptures in it, just love it. Thank you!
God Bless
Andrea
I believe God wants to bless us more than we can imagine and that we can ask for blessings for ourselves and for others.
I believe that God wants us to ask him for everything… I think he wants us to be totally dependent on him… I believe he wants us to go to him in prayer for everything.. not just the big things.. Yeah grocery shopping ok that is up to us..Like me I am going through a very trial and tribulation literally… I have been accused of a felony crime I did not commit and I am scheduled for trial 1 week before Christmas…And I have been asking that this case just go away and be dismissed… I believe through faith that it will be… I believe I will be exonerated…
His word says so…Whatever I ask in his name he will give it to me so that my joy maybe complete.. I believe he will turn my turmoil and sorrow into joy… Maybe this wasn’t right forum for this but I love ya all my brothers and sister in Jesus.. Remember me in prayer on this case.. my email is shadrak1@aol.com put ask and you will receive in subject line..
IN HIM