And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 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 5:14-15.

In my mind, I can still hear my dad’s voice so clearly as he often asked my mom what she wanted back from the store for dinner; she would quickly reply, “Anything, Elrie,” and he would reply they don’t sell anything, Dorothy, so you need to tell me what you want! 

The scriptures teach us that we have not because we ask not. “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.

God knows everything and already understands what we need. He made us in His own image, not as robots, but with love. As His dear children, we can come before His Throne of Grace and ask for whatever we need. “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” Jeremiah 33:3.

When we ask, it reminds us that all good things—both physical and spiritual—come from above. We must fully rely on God to provide, protect, guide, heal, and deliver us every step of the way.

How can we be assured that our prayers will be answered? The key is to ask in accordance with God’s will. When we fall on our knees and align our needs with His will, we can ask our Father for whatever is on our hearts. “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 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 5:14-15) 

My friends, God always keeps His promises. The value of a promise depends on who makes it, and Numbers 23:19 reminds us: “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” God never fails; He always comes through. As the songwriter says, “He’s an on time, God!”

Sometimes God answers yes, sometimes no, and sometimes He says wait, but He always responds. What do you need today? As 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

God hears us and loves us, and He is waiting for us to just ask. Even more, He will do more than we can imagine: “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,” Ephesians 3:20.

May God’s abundant goodness and mercy be with us all.