ON ASKING- Open Heavens Daily Devotionals by Pastor E.A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Jer 9-12
ON ASKING Monday, December 13, 2010
MEMORIZE: “And if we know that he hear us,  whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him” (1 John 5:15) READ: 1 John 5:14-15 Jacob escaped from home for fear of being killed by his brother, and ran to Laban. After the latter consented to providing him with a job and roof over his head, Jacob took a step further by asking Laban for his daughter’s hand in marriage (Gen. 29:15-21). Laban - as we have already established typifies Christ. Jacob was not given a wife until he asked for it. You may not get any major thing from God until you ask for it. Thank God for all His promises. Yet, they may not reach you except you ask. Although power or anointing is available to all God’s children, yet it can only be released to those who ask for it. Even though prosperity was available, we could not access it in the 60’s and 70’s because we did not ask for it. It is only those who ask, seek or knock that Heaven will attend to (Matt. 7:7-8). You will be surprised that many people under-ask but over-expect answers from God. They prefer to ask fellow men for help or discuss burning issues with them than with God. It also happened in the Early Church. James saw this and addressed it in his general epistle: “Ye lust and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not” (James 4:2). Instead of fighting, lusting and killing in order to have, just ask! And while asking, ensure you fulfill Heaven’s conditions to the letter. According to John 15:16, win souls and ensure they are established before you ask. Also, get rid of sin and live in holiness (Isaiah 59:1-2). God will not answer a thief, fornicator or liar.However, the closer you draw to Him, the stricter and tougher He becomes on the issue of holiness. What God may ignore in baby Christians, He will hold mature Christians for. In addition, always pray in Jesus’ Name but not for Jesus’ sake. Ask in faith (Matt. 21:22; James 1:6). Let your request be in alignment with God’s will. Use scriptural promises to back up your requests. Let thanksgiving start and end your prayer requests. What should you ask for? Ask for salvation of heathens (Ps. 2:8); revelation of coming events (Isaiah 45:11); the faith of patriarchs of old (Jer. 6:16); also ask for the latter rain of God’s power and blessing (Zec. 10:1); Ask for the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13). What are you asking the Lord today? ACTION POINT: Father, I am tired of asking amiss. From today, help my prayer points to always hit the bull’s eye. N.B support the www.10millionexercisebooks.com project today. God bless you.