Ask, and it will be given to you.
… and be thankful.
Luke 11:9; Colossians 3:15.
It is wonderful to know that we can always bring our requests before our God and Father. Moreover, our prayer list can never be too long. He hears all our requests, even if He does not always answer them, for that would not be good for us.
However, even if God does not grant all our requests as we would wish, He can nevertheless give us one thing: the peace of God that preserves our hearts and minds (cf. Philippians 4:7).
How easily are our thoughts misdirected, and we begin to wonder about God, or even accuse Him! When He judges the time to be right, He will answer our prayers by giving us what we need.
Haven’t you ever done the following? You have prayed day by day for the same long list of things, and suddenly you realize that there is so much you have to thank God for? You are aware that you enjoy good health; you have a comfortable home; your income is sufficient; your marriage is still intact and your children healthy and belong to the Lord, and that you, even if you are single or widowed, have like-minded friends with whom you can exchange thoughts. The Lord has given you service for Himself. The list of things for which you are thankful grows longer and longer, perhaps even longer than that of your requests.
Above all you can thank God for giving His Son for you; and having done so much to make you one of His children, He will never forsake you. His promise will never fail. God, who cannot lie, has stated: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).