How To Pray For What You Need

As we live our lives, we will always have needs. We have physical needs, like clothing, food, and shelter. We also need income so that we can buy things to satisfy the physical needs we have. Our needs are not only limited to physical or tangible needs; we also have intangible needs, like the strength to persevere. Whether tangible or intangible needs, there is only One person whom we ought to ask about our needs. He is our self-sufficient God, from whom all life depends.

Heavenly Father, remind us never to try to meet our needs on our own but always to humble ourselves and rely on You for every need that we have. Thank You because You are the One who sustains us and is faithful to provide. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

What does the Bible say about asking God for what we need?

There are many verses in the Bible that tell us to come to God and ask Him for what we need, whether tangible or intangible. In Matthew 7:7-8, Jesus tells us to ask, seek, and knock because those who do will find. That is why in (You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. James 4:2), it is written that we sometimes do not have because we do not ask. 

In Philippians 4:6-7, it is written that we are to present our prayer requests to God. Those prayer requests could be anything in relation to our needs. Is it a provision for your children’s tuition fee? Wisdom to be excellent at work? Grace and strength to persevere through life’s difficulties? Healing from the wound of a friend? Whatever that need is, we can present those as prayer requests to God in which His peace, which transcends all understanding, shall guard our hearts and minds.

Also, in (Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7), it is written that we are to cast our cares upon God because He cares for us. In verse 6, it is written that we are to humble ourselves. That means if we have needs, we should not try to act as if we have everything handled. The Bible says that if we have cares, concerns, or burdens, we are to humble ourselves and depend on God by casting those to Him because, as our heavenly Father, He also cares for us.

As we pray to God for our needs, there are certain critical biblical truths to remember. One must first seek the kingdom of God, as taught by Jesus in Matthew 6:25-34. Sometimes, we get too absorbed by our needs that we only worry about tomorrow. However, Jesus said, who adds a single hour to their life span by worrying? If God can sustain the universe, God can sustain us. God knows every need that we have before we even ask Him about them.

Also, whenever we ask God for our needs, we ask Him for our needs not so that we can live comfortably but so that we can live for Him. For example, if we need food, we don’t pray for food so that we can just be satisfied and full. We pray for food so that we can have the energy to go out and serve Him. That is the heart behind the Lord’s Prayer. In Matthew 6:5-14, Jesus taught the heart and pattern behind praying. He started by praying for God’s name to be hallowed, for His kingdom to come, and for His will to be done. Then, praying for daily bread follows. The heart behind that pattern of prayer is to ask God for every need we have so that we can hallow God’s name, lift His name up, glorify Him, and bring His kingdom here on earth by expanding it through the ministry and doing God’s will. In other words, we pray for our needs, not for ourselves, but so that we can live for God.

Our confidence is that whatever prayers God answers are for our benefit. In (If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 7:11), it is written that God only gives good gifts to His children. God knows our every need and is faithful to provide for them because He himself is faithful. We can confidently approach God’s throne and pray for our tangible needs and the grace and mercy we need because Christ has reconciled us with the Father. In (The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Psalm 34:10), it is also written that those who seek the LORD shall lack no good thing.

 

Heavenly Father, I thank You because in Christ, we can approach Your throne of grace and ask for grace and mercy in times of need. Provide for me not just the food, clothing, and resources that I need but also wisdom, strength, and grace so that I may glorify Your name and expand Your kingdom. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

How do we pray to God for what we need?

We pray to God for our needs by simply asking Him. The verses mentioned above tell us to ask God, cast our cares to Him, and present our prayer requests to Him. So, a good question to ask is, what are your needs? You can be honest with God about it and present them to God in prayer. However, make sure you clearly distinguish between needs and wants. You cannot live without needs, while wants are things that do not matter whether you have them or not.

As you pray, remember that you are asking God about your needs so that You can glorify His name in everything that you do, as written in (So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31), do His will, and expand His kingdom. You are praying for those needs not just so that you can live but so that you can live for Christ.

Heavenly Father, I am actually in need of financial provision for my tuition fee. I know that You are faithful to provide for my needs. I pray for an increase in my father’s salary or a miraculous provision so that I can pay my tuition fee. I am praying for this not only so that I can study but also to be the salt and light in the academic world and the field I am entering and to preach Your truth and who You are in that sector. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

As we encounter difficulties in life, our confidence is what Psalm 34:10 tells us that we lack no good thing in God. Remember that God is our heavenly Father, and just like any good father, He desires for us to have good things and never lack them. It is also at this point where Proverbs 3:4-6 applies. We are to trust God and not try to be wise with our own eyes. That means trusting what God defines as good.