I have been puzzled during the many years of my Christian faith about the issue of prayer and asking for what I want and need from God. Scripture repeatedly says, “Ask, and it shall be given to you” (Matthew 7:7). I have many ‘things’ I could and sometimes do ask of God. But, is He offering a blank check just waiting to be filled in? I hardly think so. Balanced with other Scriptures which warn us to pray with a pure heart, it seems that we are to go to our Heavenly Father as we might to our earthly father, seeking wisdom, guidance and even specific answers to prayers we might have. Our motives, however, must be pure and we must pray that God’s will be done in all things.
Dr. David Hawkins, MBA, MSW, MA, PhD, is a Christian Clinical Psychologist and Director of the Marriage Recovery Center. He has helped bring healing to thousands of marriages and individuals and is passionate about working with couples in crisis. If you need help, please reach out to his Client Care Team at 206.219.0145 or through their website. Dr. Hawkins is also a speaker & trainer for the American Association of Christian Counselors and is a best-selling author of over thirty books including Never Fight Again, Gauranteed and When Loving Him is Hurting You. He has two grown sons, is happily married to Christie Hawkins, and lives on Bainbridge Island, outside Seattle, WA.