"Ye Have Not, Because..."

Because, YE ASK NOT!

That is a big problem with christians today. Many conveniently think that since God knows everything,

"Then we don't need to pray and ask for anything, what. Since He knows everything, and since He has already laid out the best path, then why do we need to pray and ask Him for it?"

And then, when 'bad' things happen to us, we then cry to God : "WHY!"

Doesn't that sound familiar?

Well, the thing is, God sometimes does not give us the 'best' because He is waiting for us to ASK.

Take Moses at the mountain-top with God, when He wanted to destroy the nation of Israel and start a whole new Chosen Nation from Moses:

7 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt. 8 They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, 'These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.'

9 "I have seen these people," the LORD said to Moses, "and they are a stiff-necked people. 10 Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation."

11 But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God. "O LORD," he said, "why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians say, 'It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth'? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. 13 Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: 'I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.' " 14 Then the LORD relented and did not bring on His people the disaster He had threatened.

If Moses had not asked, the Lord would have indeed have killed the whole nation of Israel, and athough He had promised Abraham that his offspring would become a Great Nation "numerous as the stars in the shy", God would be justified in doing so!

However, because Moses pleaded, the Lord RELENTED and thus the Israelites were not killed.

Is that not enough to convince anyone that prayer is so very important?

More verses (NIV):
Genesis 25:21Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. The LORD answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant.

2 Samuel 21:14They buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the tomb of Saul's father Kish, at Zela in Benjamin, and did everything the king commanded. After that, God answered prayer in behalf of the land.

2 Samuel 24:25David built an altar to the LORD there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the LORD answered prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.

1 Kings 9:3The LORD said to him: "I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting my Name there forever. My eyes and My heart will always be there.

2 Chronicles 30:27The priests and the Levites stood to bless the people, and God heard them, for their prayer reached heaven, His holy dwelling place.

Ezra 8:23So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.

Job 42:9So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite did what the LORD told them; and the LORD accepted Job's prayer.

Psalm 17:1[ A prayer of David. ] Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer— it does not rise from deceitful lips.

Psalm 80:4O LORD God Almighty, how long will your anger smolder against the prayers of your people?

Psalm 102:17He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea.


Proverbs 15:8The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him.

Proverbs 15:29The LORD is far from the wicked but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

Proverbs 28:9If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law, even his prayers are detestable.

Lamentations 3:44You have covered yourself with a cloud so that no prayer can get through.

Matthew 6:5[ Prayer ] "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.


Matthew 21:22If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

Mark 9:29He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer. "


Acts 10:5The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter.

Acts 10:31and said, 'Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor.

Romans 12:12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

2 Corinthians 1:11as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

Philippians 4:6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.


Colossians 4:2[ Further Instructions ] Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

Colossians 4:12Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.

Etc etc. For more verses on Prayer, check out Bible Gateway (type 'Prayer').

Hope this has managed to convince to all the importance of prayer!