Level 1 We must ask for it ourself
James 4:2 "You do not have, because you do not ask God." This may seem simple, but Scripture is clear that there are many things that God would do if only we would ask Him. We are much more likely to try to accomplish things in our own strength first and only as a last resort pray. Our trust basically lies in ourselves and the resources that we have at our disposal. If we are to see God work we must ask Him ourselves.
Level 2 We must ask others to ask the Lord with us
"If two of you agree on anything on earth it will be done" MT 18:19 There is power in the petitions of people. It only takes you and one other person to invite someone into your burden, but may I say the more the merrier. One of the ways we bare one another's burdens is by carrying them to the Lord in prayer. Very plainly let me tell you there are some things that God won't do for you if you are the only one asking. God wants us to live in community. God wants us to humble ourselves and let others serve us. If we are to see many obstacles removed, doors opened, chains broken, pain healed and so on; then we will need to invite other people into our messy life by getting them to pray for us.
Level 3 We must ask God repeatedly over a period of time
Some answers to prayer will only come as we ask God over and over again across a period of time. The parable of the persistent widow (Luke 18) told by Jesus teaches us that God is not our genie in a bottle. He does not jump when we say so. Our prayers are request; not demands. The name it and claim it prosperity gospel teachers would tell you that if you don't get what you want you must not have faith. The Bible teaches that not getting what you want and continuing to ask God often requires greater faith than getting what you want immediately. Some things that God wants to do for you will only come as you ask Him repeatedly over a period of time.
Level 4 We must ask God along with others over a period of time
Some answers to prayer will only come by the faithful petitions of you and others over a period of time. These are the most difficult answers to prayer to receive because they require you to wait, to keep asking and not give up, and to humble yourself by asking others to ask too. The blows to your pride are almost too many to count with these types of prayers. You must be weak in the worlds eyes by acknowledging your powerlessness to God and to others. You must be faithful to trust that the unseen, unheard God who has remained silent all this time has not forgotten you. Few things in the Christ followers life will test you like waiting, praying, and asking others to pray day after day for the same thing. These prayers are the ones people give up on. Don't give up though! God is using your desire to refine you and purify you in a way that nothing else will. The answers to these prayers are so sweet!
For six years my wife Kari and I tried to have children. We prayed, cried, got others praying, but still we could not conceive. Kari is great with children. She believes one of the main reasons God put her on earth was to raise kids. This made the unanswered prayer even more hurtful. We continued praying, we prayed about going to doctors and we did so. We spent a lot of our money and others money, but still we could not conceive. This year we were advised by doctors that our best chance for conception was to do invetro fertilization. The cost was enormous. After praying and getting others to pray once again we moved forward with the procedure. We took out a loan for a portion of the cost. We believed and prayed back to God that children are a gift from Him. My wife is now almost 5 months pregnant. God did not answer when we wanted. He made us wait and ask others. We had to seek Him and petition Him again and again. I can tell you that the joy of this baby is now shared in a special way not only by us but by all who prayed. God will receive praise for His gifts. Many times the prayerful wait is what brings Him the praise that is due His name. I do not understand all Gods reasons; I do not need to understand. I do know that God has said ask, ask others to ask, ask and wait, and ask, wait, and ask others to do so as well. If we will do that and not give up; we will see God do amazing things. He is God and everything we ask is not good for us, but many things He wants to give us; we just have to have the faith to follow His ways.
In Jesus Name
Jarrett Jamieson
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