Why Do I Have to Ask?

A lot of people wonder about this.  If God is omniscient, meaning He knows everything from the beginning of time to the end of time, he must also know our needs!  In fact, Jesus told us that God knows our needs in Matthew 6:8.  He knows them before we even ask.  So why do we need to ask?  Why doesn’t God just supply things to us as we go along and make life a whole lot easier!

One reason is that God wants to make sure we know what we need!  You have to remember that the heart is deceitful above all things (Jeremiah 17:9).  Our heart is very good at making sure we concentrate on our wants instead of our needs.  But God is not interested in our wants as much as He is in fulfilling our needs.  We often pray for things that we want just to fill our lust for riches, power, fame or some other thing.  James tells us that one of the reasons our prayers are not answered is because we ask amiss (James 4:3).  God wants us to have a desire for His things (Psalm 37:4) and He will place that desire in our hearts when we delight in Him.

I love the story of blind Bartimaeus in Mark 10:46-52.  Bartimaeus sat ion the streets every day begging for alms because he was blind and needed help to survive.  He took whatever he could get from passersby.  One day it was rumored that Jesus was coming to town and a crowd started to gather.  Indeed, Jesus was coming, and people thronged the streets to see Him and be touched by Him.  They had all heard of the miraculous healings that took place wherever He went and they wanted to see for themselves.

Amidst the crowd, Bartimaeus heard of His coming as well.  he had heard of the miraculous opening of blind eyes that took place.  he had heard of the ears being opened for the deaf.  he had heard of many sick that were healed.  He wanted a meeting with Jesus as well.  But he could not see the crowd that had gathered around him and crowded him back to the buildings, where he sat wondering how he would get Jesus attention..  Then he just started crying out with a loud voice “Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me!”

The crowd around him tried to quiet him down, but the more they tried to quiet him, the louder he got. “Jesus, thous Son of David, have mercy on me.”  Over and over again he said it as Jesus came closer and closer.  He did not give up.  he was determined to meet with Jesus and he had a need as great, if not greater, than anyone else in the crowd.  He had to make Jesus hear him from the back of the crowd, so he got even louder “Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.”

Suddenly, Jesus stopped.  Right in the middle of the crowd everything came to a halt.  Jesus had heard that cry from the back and He told the people to bring that man to Him.  In amazement, the people around Bartimaeus told him to get up.,  When Bartimaeus asked why, they said Jesus wanted to see him.  I can only imagine the smile that grew on his face as Bartimaeus worked his way through the crowd.  Pats on the back and  “Atta boy’s” had to be ringing through the people, knowing this man had waited a long time for this meeting,  They were ready to see a miracle!

Bartimaeus walked up to Jesus weeping.  Then he asked an astonishing question.  He asked Bartimaeus what he would like to have.  Was’t it obvious he was blind?  What else could Bartimaeus possibly want but his sight?  Why did Jesus ask this question?  I am convinced that Bartimaeus could have asked for anything he wanted at this point and he would have received it.  I think this is only one off two times in the bible where God asks someone an open question like that.  The other is when Solomon asked for wisdom.

Bartimaeus opened his eyes and faced Jesus.  He simply said :That I might see”.  God granted that request immediately.  His eyes were opened and for the first time in his life he saw.  He must have been jubilantly dancing, and the people were shouting praises.  Bartimaeus would never be the same again after meeting Jesus.  His eyes were open to the light.

Here is the classic example of having to ask even though God knows.  God wants to make sure we know what the top priority is for our lives.  He wants us to desire it with all our heart and soul.  He wants us to put it above all other things and believe God can do it.  He wants us to ask because the words of our mouth are powerful and they solidify our faith around what we are asking for.

That’s just one reason.  For more wonderful insight into the amazing world of prayer, pick up “The ASK Principle” today from Amazon or Barnes and Noble.  Your prayer life will thank you for it!