Luke 18:1 GNB Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to teach them that they should always pray and never become discouraged.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 CEV Always be joyful (17) and never stop praying.
Today, we are going to continue looking at how to pray for or about specific things in our lives. We are going to see what the Word of God says about those things and how we should pray about them.
How do I pray about my needs?
Matthew 6:5-8 NKJV “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. (6) But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. (7) And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. (8) “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
Notice Jesus said that your Heavenly Father knows that you have need of these things but just because He knows, Jesus never said don’t ask.
- Knowledge of something does not equal permission to change it.
In order for God to get involved in solving your problem or situation, He must be invited.
- God is interested in every detail of your life and wants to be involved in all of them.
Matthew 10:29-31 NLT What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. (30) And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. (31) So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.
- It is OK to pray about your needs and desires.
Philippians 4:6-7 TPT Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, (7) then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ.
God does not want you worrying about the needs in your life. He wants you to pray about them.
You must pray in faith believing that you receive the answer to your prayer when you pray. (Mark 11:24)
Mark 11:24 NLT I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.
Once you have prayed, begin to thank the Lord that the need is met in Jesus’ Name.
Remember, faith believes that God has heard your prayer and has answered your prayer before you see anything change as far as your need is concerned. Give Him continual praise and thanksgiving that the need is met.
- God is not poor but He does not have any money.
If you are praying about a financial need that you may have in your life, first understand that God wants to meet that need but He personally does not have any money to give to you. Money is a means of exchange that is in the earth and does not originate in Heaven. They do not have any money in Heaven but Heaven is not broke.
If all of the money is here in the earth, then in order to meet your need, God has to get you some money that is here in the earth.
- God is going to use a person who has money to meet that financial need.
He will begin to move on the heart of someone to make those monies available to Him for His purpose.
- God is always looking out for the best interest of everyone and wants all to experience His blessing and favor.
What I mean by this is that God will find someone who has a willing heart to give so that not only can your need be met, but He can bless them and cause a harvest to come into their life too.
- Be prepared for God to begin to talk to you about making sure that you are tithing and giving.
These are the ways that He has set up in His Word for Himself to get involved in your life financially.
God is not obligated to meet the needs of someone who is disobeying Him. (Mal. 3:9-10)
If you are not tithing and giving, changing is very easy. Just repent, then ask God to forgive you and then make the decision to be obedient in these areas.
- Be prepared for God to talk to you about the way that you are managing your life.
The scriptures tell us that God is not obligated to bless someone who is a bad steward and is mismanaging what He has entrusted to them.
Again, if you have not managed your life the way that you should, God’s grace and mercy is still available to you. Just repent and ask God to forgive you and then change. Take advantage of the resources that are available to you through things like Financial Peace University with Dave Ramsey.
- God’s plan for your life is that you have to pray about your financial needs less and less as you grow and walk in the blessed life God has for you.
It is God’s highest and best that we experience a continual harvest in our lives simply because of what God’s Word has said.
2 Corinthians 9:6-11 AMPC [Remember] this: he who sows sparingly and grudgingly will also reap sparingly and grudgingly, and he who sows generously [that blessings may come to someone] will also reap generously and with blessings. (7) Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, “prompt to do it”) giver [whose heart is in his giving]. [Pro 22:9] (8) And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation]. (9) As it is written, He [the benevolent person] scatters abroad; He gives to the poor; His deeds of justice and goodness and kindness and benevolence will go on and endure forever! [Psa 112:9] (10) And [God] Who provides seed for the sower and bread for eating will also provide and multiply your [resources for] sowing and increase the fruits of your righteousness [which manifests itself in active goodness, kindness, and charity]. [Isa 55:10; Hos 10:12] (11) Thus you will be enriched in all things and in every way, so that you can be generous, and [your generosity as it is] administered by us will bring forth thanksgiving to God.
God wants to bring us to a place where we are enriched in all things so that we are able to be a resource that He can use to meet the needs of other people.
- God wants our lives to no longer be about us and our needs but allowing God to use us to meet the needs of others.