How often do you ask for what you need? How often do you ask for what you want? Who do you ask? When you ask God, how do you ask? What is your attitude? Do you believe he can provide? Do you have faith that he will answer? What if the answer is no? Will you still believe?
We ask God for lots of things in our prayers. We may ask for healing. We may ask for peace. We may ask for frivolous things such as a new car, tickets for a concert, or even just a dinner at a restaurant. Most of us have what we need—a home, clothing, food, and drink.
Jesus’s ministry initially focused on the Jews. So, when a Canaanite woman came to Him, He dismissed her. However, she persisted, asking that Jesus remove a demon from her daughter. Because she persisted with faith that He could remove the demon, He relented and gave her what she desired. The request was not just about physical healing; it was about spiritual healing as well. Jesus is all about spiritual healing.
Many of us will ask for physical healing and are disappointed when God does not heal in the way we want. We may question our faith. Is it strong enough? Do not question your faith based on this exchange between Jesus and the Canaanite woman. She was asking for something more important than physical healing, which is not to diminish physical healing. But spiritual healing is critical from God’s perspective.
When we ask God for something in a prayer, it is less about faith, though faith is important, than it is about God’s will. The more we are in tune with God’s will, the more our prayers will align with it. The more our prayers align with God’s will, just as the Canaanite woman’s, the more likely our prayers will be answers as we want.
I pray we all trust that Jesus can heal. I pray we trust Him to heal our spirits. I pray each one of us will seek God’s will and align our prayers to it. Jesus can heal. Jesus heals our spirits. Seek God’s will. Align your will with God’s will.
Matthew 15:28 Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed from that moment.
Marty Pressey 