9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 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 the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:9-12 NIV)
God wants us to bring our petitions to him. He promises to answer our prayers. But does he promise to give us everything as if it were an itemized list?
The examples we have in verses 11 and 12 assure us that God will give us only good gifts. Therefore, it follows that if we ask for something that is not good for us, he might give us an answer that is not what we thought we wanted, but something better or more appropriate.
The important thing to take away from these verses is that God wants to give us what we ask, and he wants us to ask. We can ask with confidence knowing that whatever God gives us is what is best for us.
Verse 12 ends with the words “how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” I believe Jesus is reminding us that the Holy Spirit is the best gift of all, and he will give us eyes to recognize how he is answering our prayers when the answer seems unexpected at first.
Copyright © 2008 by Janice Green
(Ask and you will receive – kid’s version: http://honeycombkids.wordpress.com/2009/11/02/ask-and-you-will-receive/ )
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
Note: His Whisperings is now in a new location. If you are interested in following this blog you need to follow it at www.hiswhisperings.com.
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18 comments
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January 22, 2008 at 8:38 pm
myhealthexperts
Great blog! I think its a little deeper than that – w/ask and you shall receive – I dont think it refers to earthly things, but what do I know…
May 16, 2009 at 11:39 am
jonedrahadian
Good post. Very inspiring. ^_^
Joned
July 4, 2009 at 7:24 pm
James
“Ask and you will receive” – This could refer to a multitude of things. Because our minds are wired to think worldly, we often think of it in terms of earthly possessions. I am not saying this is wrong, but how many times do we ask for guidance, or wisdom, or courage in certain situations? I think that Peter is telling us to be free to ask God for the things we need on a daily basis, whether it’s food to eat, money to pay the bills, or even spiritual gifts.
July 4, 2009 at 10:51 pm
Janice Green
Excellent point. Thank you for your comment.
July 8, 2009 at 12:48 pm
James
I really enjoyed reading the original posts, but felt something was missing… In addition, I have felt a lot of personal connection with this verse and wanted to share what it has meant for me.
January 3, 2012 at 6:03 am
Rana Armoush
I agree with you, Its an invitation for us to ask what we need from our heavenly father as long as our requests don’t hurt others. If you ask for your daily bread, and you were thankful to receive it ,for example, this blessing will last for you. The same goes for good health , knowing that faith and power of prayers have worked miracles in healing the sick and crippled. The Key I think is to ask in your prayers with the faith of knowing that God will bless you and grant you with things that are best for you.
January 3, 2012 at 1:21 pm
Janice D. Green
Thanks Rana. We do need to ask within his will, not to serve ourselves alone.
I hope you will find my current His Whisperings posts within my new blog, Honeycomb Adventures. See http://honeycombadventures.com and find the category His Whisperings.
I am no longer posting to this His Whisperings blog.
December 3, 2009 at 9:18 am
yosef
God is always faithful and His promises never change and His love endures forever!Faith is what we need and you will see the hand of God move,He always .takes care of all our needs we need to thank and praise Him always and in all circumstances!Dedicate what ever you do and all your plans will succeed.email me for prayer or spiritual insight or general guestions.Blessings to all,remember if you believe you receive.
May 9, 2010 at 3:07 pm
Abby
I need to read this right about now in my week. I was fritting, I know of his promises & his word. Love ur blog. May his grace and mercy continue to see u threw.
May 9, 2010 at 3:21 pm
Janice D. Green
One of the blessings of “fritting” is that it causes us to seek God. Seek for him with all your heart and be blessed, but perhaps not in the way you expected.
November 18, 2010 at 4:08 pm
ED
I think if someone is doing nothing like try and work a job or anything at all he or she should not be asking for anything. All he or she is doing is very being selfish by tying to get by in life for free.
November 23, 2010 at 10:52 pm
Janice D. Green
I tend to agree. God speaks to that in James 4:3 which reads, “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”
We can’t fool God, and He gives us what He believes is best for us. He will not reward laziness. A lazy person should not expect God to answer his/her prayers for material things.
January 20, 2011 at 4:33 pm
shakira
J D Green what im asking is’ if i ask eg for God to guide when im going to rob a bank, will he answer me , like as in a form of tempting me or just to test my faith in Him.
January 20, 2011 at 5:18 pm
Janice D. Green
I question whether this is a serious question, but I’ll attempt an answer anyway.
God gives us good gifts only. Would it be a good gift to reward someone for doing something wrong? I don’t think so. So why would he help someone rob a bank?
August 13, 2011 at 6:45 am
Steve Katz
G-d gives to them that asketh.
Turn the other cheek is “Give to him that asketh”; it matters not whom, good or evil; because the sky is over all. Because G-d gives to him that asketh; it matters not whom.
Matt 7:7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
Matthew 5:39 But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
5:40 And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.
5:41 If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
5:42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
5:43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
5:44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
5:45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
Matthew 21:22 If you believe (hold faith/are genuine), you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Elias You get what you are concentrating upon.
January 12, 2012 at 1:54 am
Wendy
I have breast cancer, quite advanced. I want to ask God to heal me without need for operation. For doctors say that I need to do an operation to remove the breast, after my sessions of chemotherapy. All doctors will say that I will have to do an operation do be 100% sure that nothing is left. Can I pray and believe that the cancer cells will all be destroyed by chemotherapy? If in Matthew 21:22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” can I go against doctors advices since I have faith to believe?
January 12, 2012 at 11:22 am
Janice D. Green
There are no easy answers to your question. I believe God can and does use doctors to heal, and I have seen situations where God healed what the doctors declared beyond hope. Sometimes God gives us the gift of doctors who discover cancer in time to heal it with medical care. I had a cousin who chose believe God would heal her cancer and did not go through the treatments. She died.
I can in no way claim to be an authority in this matter. I can only share what I know and what I think I know. And I can offer my prayer…
Father God, please fill Windy with your Spirit as she wrestles with this very difficult question. May she feel your guidance in a way that is so clear that she can move ahead in the peace that she has pleased you with her decision. You are the Master Healer whichever direction she takes in this difficult decision, and we praise you. Amen
January 12, 2012 at 2:31 pm
Janice D. Green
Wendy, I came across this today and felt you might benefit from reading it. http://by167w.bay167.mail.live.com/default.aspx#n=909480622&fid=1&fav=1&mid=7ee1e3ce-3ca4-11e1-87ba-00215ad7a4fe&fv=1