- Joined
- Oct 26, 2007
- Messages
- 12,543
And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. 1 John 5:14
If you’re on Facebook or some other form of social media, you’ve no doubt seen those posts promising amazing financial blessings from God if you’ll just click on “Share” so seven of your friends can read the same post.
If you haven’t already given that blessing plan a try, here’s a little secret: It doesn’t work, and it doesn’t work because that’s not the way God answers prayer. Your heavenly Father, as good and generous as He is with His blessings, isn’t like an ATM—just shove in the right card and punch in the correct codes, and you get instant cash.
God wants to answer your prayers, and He wants to pour out His blessings on you, but, as today’s verse point out, He hears you and grants your requests when you ask for anything that pleases Him. The apostle James put it very simply: “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures” (James 4:3).
In and of itself, there’s nothing wrong with asking God to bless you—even bless you financially. But remember that this kind of blessing is contingent on two things: (1) are you asking with the right motives, and (2) does blessing you financially at this time please Him?
If you’re on Facebook or some other form of social media, you’ve no doubt seen those posts promising amazing financial blessings from God if you’ll just click on “Share” so seven of your friends can read the same post.
If you haven’t already given that blessing plan a try, here’s a little secret: It doesn’t work, and it doesn’t work because that’s not the way God answers prayer. Your heavenly Father, as good and generous as He is with His blessings, isn’t like an ATM—just shove in the right card and punch in the correct codes, and you get instant cash.
God wants to answer your prayers, and He wants to pour out His blessings on you, but, as today’s verse point out, He hears you and grants your requests when you ask for anything that pleases Him. The apostle James put it very simply: “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures” (James 4:3).
In and of itself, there’s nothing wrong with asking God to bless you—even bless you financially. But remember that this kind of blessing is contingent on two things: (1) are you asking with the right motives, and (2) does blessing you financially at this time please Him?
