Prayer affects God.  It prompts God to move in ways that he may not have otherwise moved.  The whole of Scripture tells us that he hears and answers the cries of his people.

One of the purposes of the Bible is to stress the great importance of asking God for both the physical needs of our families and for the spiritual needs of our families.  He tells us that He will not withhold any good thing from us.  Romans 8:31b-32 says, “If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”  God turned over His own Son for our good.  Wouldn’t He be willing to grant your family the spiritual strength you need for whatever trial you’re facing right now?  Ask him for the strength to face the issues in your home!

Let’s recall again the words in Matthew 7:11, “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”

God encourages us to pray.  He gives us the certainty that He will answer our prayers in accordance with the generosity of his promises and according to the abundance that He possesses.

  • God will never run out of resources.
  • God does not have to be careful in what he gives to his people.
  • He always has more than enough.
  • He is never greedy or stingy.

Matthew 21:22 says, “22 And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”  The “whatever” in that verse covers everything.  We are invited to ask God for anything and if He believes it is a good gift for us to have, He will grant it.

God does not ask us to prove to Him that we’re needy.  He already knows that!  He challenges us to ask for His help.  God says in Jeremiah 33:3, “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”