Just Ask: How to Pray with Confidence and Faith

Have you ever felt torn about praying? Perhaps you've hesitated because your request seemed too small or too big for God. Maybe you've wondered if God would even care about your situation or if you deserve His help.

The truth is, God cares about everything in your life - both the small details and the enormous challenges. As we continue our "Teach Us to Pray" series, we're learning that prayer isn't about using God like a vending machine, but about building a relationship with a Father who deeply cares about His children.

Why Don't We Ask God for Help?


Many of us struggle with bringing our needs to God for various reasons:

  • We think our problems are too small ("God is too busy managing the universe to care about my lost keys")

  • We believe our situations are too big ("God could never heal this" or "God could never fix my financial situation")

  • We feel unworthy ("God might help others, but not me")


    • None of these beliefs align with what Scripture teaches us about God. He cares about everything that matters to you because you're His child. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 7 that if even imperfect parents know how to give good gifts to their children, "how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him?"

    What Jesus Taught About Asking in Prayer


    In Matthew 6:11-13, Jesus continues teaching the disciples how to pray:

    "Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."

    This prayer model shows us three important areas where we should ask God for help:

    1. Ask for Physical Needs - "Give us today our daily bread"


    Jesus teaches us to ask God for our everyday physical needs. This doesn't mean we should treat God like a cosmic ATM, but it does mean we should depend on Him for provision.

    Remember how God provided manna in the wilderness for the Israelites? He gave them exactly what they needed each day. Similarly, God wants us to depend on Him daily for our needs.

    2. Ask for Spiritual Needs - "Forgive us our debts"


    Our greatest spiritual need is forgiveness and knowing God. When we pray for forgiveness, we're reminded that:

    • We had a debt we couldn't pay

    • Our Heavenly Father paid it for us

    • We should extend that same grace to others


      • 3. Ask for Protection - "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil"

      We live in a dangerous world with real spiritual battles. Sometimes the most dangerous person in our life is ourselves! Jesus teaches us to pray for protection from:

      • Our own selfish desires that lead to temptation

      • The evil one who seeks to destroy us

      • The dangers of a fallen world


        • Why We Don't Receive What We Ask For


        James 4:1-2 provides insight into why our prayers sometimes go unanswered: "You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."

        Many of our conflicts and frustrations come from trying to fulfill our desires through our own means rather than bringing them to God. We try to manipulate situations, justify our actions, or take matters into our own hands instead of simply asking God.

        Bold Prayers That Changed Everything


        Scripture is filled with examples of ordinary people who prayed bold prayers:

        • Elijah prayed persistently for rain after years of drought (1 Kings 18)

        • Hezekiah asked God for more years of life when told he would die

        • The early church prayed earnestly for Peter's release from prison (Acts 12)


          • In each case, God responded with supernatural intervention. When Peter was miraculously freed from prison by an angel, the text says, "Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him." Their collective, earnest prayers moved God to action.

          God Can Do More Than We Can Imagine


          Ephesians 3:20 reminds us that God "is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us." The problem isn't that we ask God for too much - it's that we don't ask Him for enough!

          What needs are you facing right now?

          • Forgiveness for yourself or the strength to forgive someone else

          • A job or financial provision

          • Physical healing

          • Comfort for a broken heart

          • Victory over addiction

          • Restoration in your marriage

          • A child who has strayed from faith


            • Have you asked God about these things? Do you believe He cares and has the power to help?

            A Warning About Spiritual Warfare


            When you begin to engage with God in prayer in meaningful ways, expect opposition. The enemy doesn't sit idly by when God's people pray. You may experience unusual challenges, distractions, or attacks designed to discourage you from praying.

            But don't fear - "greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4). Be aware of the enemy's tactics, but keep pressing into prayer.

            Life Application


            This week, I challenge you to identify one specific prayer request - something you truly need God to do in your life or the life of someone you love. Write it down and commit to praying about it daily.

            When God answers your prayer, celebrate it as a testimony to His faithfulness. Share your story with others to encourage their faith.

            Ask yourself these questions:

            1. What am I not asking God for that I should be bringing to Him?

            2. Do I truly believe God cares about my needs and has the power to meet them?

            3. Am I depending on myself instead of God for provision, forgiveness, or protection?

            4. How might my prayer life change if I approached God as a loving Father rather than a distant deity?


              5. Prayer forms our dependence on God. When we pray, we acknowledge that we aren't self-sufficient - we need Him. And as we experience His faithfulness in answering our prayers, our faith grows stronger.

              Don't be afraid to ask. Your heavenly Father is waiting to hear from you.

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