Many of us - even some that have known the Lord for many years - still sound like small children when we pray. God asked us to have childlike faith, but we still pray childlike prayers asking God for general blessings concerning us and our loved ones. But God pleads with us to grow in our prayer life. In particular, we need to get specific with God when we pray. 

Our foundation scripture tells us that if we ask anything according to His will, God hears us. This means there is nothing wrong with asking if we are asking God for something that lines up with His will.

The connotation of “ask” within this scripture means that we should be adamant and respectfully demanding in our need for assistance. We shouldn’t be rude or arrogant as we pray, but we should come to God so sure that our request is correct that we ask boldly with the firm expectation that we’ll receive our desired outcome.

Furthermore, since you are praying according to God’s will, you don’t have to come to God scared and asking Him for general blessings. You are praying precisely according to what God already wants to do. So boldly assert your faith and expect Him to move on your behalf. 

John continues within our foundation scriptures by saying, “And if we know that he hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him”. This is where God tells us to get specific. Petition in the scripture here denotes an exact, precise, detailed request. Our requests when we pray should be so in depth and thorough, there should be no room for misunderstanding on exactly what we have asked, and our prayer should in effect, be like a “petition” that we have prepared and submitted to our Father.

It’s time to step forward in our relationship with God and it’s time for us to pray more effectively. Yea, it’s cute for a little child to offer up general prayers, but, as we grow in our intimacy with God as believers, He wants us to know specifically what we need according to His will and not be afraid to boldly come into His presence, ask for it, and expect to receive it. Dive deep into HIs word until you find specifically what the will of God is for your situation. Once you have it, be assured you have the right to go straight into His presence, honorably and respectfully, and insist that His will be done in your matter. Seize God’s will for your life and demand that it come into manifestation. 

He’s just waiting for you to ask.

Prayer

Father, as I continue to seek your Word and wisdom, show me plainly what Your will for my life is. Direct me to find your promises that apply to specific situations in my life right now. Father God, once you have enabled me to discern Your will for my life and identify what you have already promised, I pray you give me the courage to approach you in absolute confidence and total assurance as I make specific requests in prayer. Lord, I commit myself to come to You with detailed petitions when I pray. I pray my answered prayers glorify Your name and Your name only so that I may be a light to this world through your grace. In Jesus' name, Amen.