5 Things I Ask God for Every Day

Last week I started a month long series on prayer.  If you haven’t yet, read the first article here – “5 Things I Thank God for Every Day”

If you were to ask the average individual what they most closely associated with the concept of prayer I dare say most would refer to the ability we have, through prayer, to ask God for things we need or things we hope to see done. And that is wholly within reason. James connected the primary reason we don’t receive certain blessings in our lives to the fact that we often don’t ask for them (4:3). Jesus had promised in the Sermon on the Mount that if we “ask…it shall be given unto you” (Matthew 7:7). Yes, I know that prayer is much more than just a chance to unload our “wish-list” on God, but prayer is most definitely an opportunity to approach God with supplications, prayers, and intercessions along with our thanksgivings (1 Timothy 2:1). So wouldn’t we be remiss if we didn’t take advantage of the amazing opportunity to petition God for those things that we see as legitimate needs in life? Some of those needs may come and go but there are a few I ask God for everyday…

Everyday I ask God for guidance. Jesus taught His disciples to pray that God deliver them from the evil one (Matthew 6:13). Well, that evil one is just as active in trying to destroy lives now as he’s ever been (1 Peter 5:8). And because he is still actively trying to destroy our lives we should understand and accept our reliance on God’s guidance. Yes, in large part that prayer will only be answered as much as we are willing to commit ourselves to Bible doctrine, but would you deny that God has the ability to guide us through His providence? What about the influences and events that He sends into our lives that help to round us out into complete Christians? No, we can’t do this on our own therefore we desperately need God’s guidance and we should pray for it every single day.

Everyday I ask God for opportunity. Just one more soul, just one more opportunity to make an impact toward eternity, just one open door. God given opportunity is the true fuel behind church growth. He isn’t going to make any church grow anymore than He’s going to make any soul accept or obey the gospel (such would be contrary to free will). But He will do for us what He did for His servants throughout the New Testament. He sent the apostles multiple audiences (Acts 2-4), He sent Philip the eunuch (Acts 8:26ff), He sent Peter Cornelius and His family (Acts 10), and He’ll continue to send us opportunities if we will simply ask.

Everyday I ask God for blessing. He is, after all, the Father of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17). No, He’s not a magic genie committed to making our every wish come true and He doesn’t respond to selfish requests (Luke 18:11-12). But He does promise an open ear to the humble and sincere requests that address needs, cares, and concerns in our lives. Jesus taught His disciples to pray for their daily bread (Matthew 6:11). James taught that we can and should pray for those who are sick and suffering (James 5:13-15). The things that we need sometimes change and sometimes stay the same, however, the fact that we have a God that will bless us remains the same. But asking is imperative to our receiving (James 4:3) so be sure to ask Him every single day.

Everyday I ask God for forgiveness. I am not a perfect person no more than you are. If I thought I was I’d be a fool and a liar (1 John 1:8). All men sin and fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). So what can I do? I can’t stand before God on my own. I’d fall miserably short if I tried. All I can do, the only option that I have is to throw myself at His mercy and plead for His forgiveness. Jesus taught the need to continually ask for God’s forgiveness (Matthew 6:12) and the publican was commended by Jesus for the humility he had to make this one request – “God, be thou merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13). Without His forgiveness I’m lost so I make sure to ask Him for it every day.

Everyday I ask God for success. No, I’m not talking about asking God for success in any purely selfish areas (money, notoriety, etc.). But there are areas where success isn’t selfish, its essential. I want my family to succeed, I want to see our nation succeed, I want to see God’s people succeed in fulfilling the Great Commission, I want to see churches succeed in their attempts to serve God and reach the lost with the gospel, and I want to succeed spiritually by going to be with God eternally. None of this can be accomplished absent from God and His care and so I ask Him for that success every day.

Do you want these things and others from God? No doubt you do. But if so there is no question about just how important it is to actually ask God. Does He know we need them already? Sure, but by asking we cite our dependence on Him for it all. Ask Him and ask Him every single day. Only then will the full power of prayer be unleashed in our lives.

-Andy