Ask for What You Want

By: Lauren Thomas

In my work as a counselor, one thing I do is help people improve their relationships. And while there are many ways to improve relationships, communication is usually a key element. To communicate well, we have to examine what we are not communicating. Many problems occur within relationships because one person fails to communicate their needs, wants, or expectations. This is a problem that can arise in any type of relationship, be it parent-child, boss-employee, or peer friendship.

 

It occurs to me that this communication problem can be present even in our relationship with God.

In Luke 11:1-13 Jesus taught his disciples how to pray and used a parable to illustrate his point. In that parable, a friend’s boldness in asking resulted in his request being fulfilled. The word in Greek used to describe this friend’s asking could be interpreted impudence or persistence, shamelessness. Jesus’ point was that God wants us to be this way in our prayer.

 

⁹ And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

Luke 11:9-10 ESV

 

Does impudence, shameless boldness, and persistence describe your prayer life? Christians might stop praying this way due to repeated disappointment. Perhaps pride is in their lives expressed through entitlement or unvoiced expectations (example: God will give me xyz because I deserve it). Maybe they just don’t believe that God will respond the way the Bible says He will.

 

Whatever the reason, there is more at stake than just getting what we need or want. There is secondary benefit to praying with impudence, shamelessness, and persistence.

 

In relationships where needs and wants are clearly communicated, the other party has freedom to respond to those requests. As they respond to direct requests, trust is built. As the cycle of need-expressed, need-met continues, the trust becomes stronger and deeper.

 

Improving communication in our prayer life will undoubtedly improve our relationship with God. Let this be your sign to pray with impudence, shameless boldness, and persistence.

 

Reflection:

Read Luke 11:1-13 and Luke 18:1-8. Does impudence, shameless boldness, and persistence describe your prayer life? What is one thing you could ask God for today? Ask for that thing in prayer today with impudence, shamelessness, and persistence. Watch your trust in God grow as He meet needs in your life!