Five Steps To Receiving

Given July 11, 2011

Too many times we pray and don’t receive what we asked for. Of course, God is sovereign and knows what’s best for us so sometimes the answer is “No” or “Not now”.  But there are conditions which we control that have an effect on our receiving.  Let’s look at five of them.

1.  We must believe that God has the ability and resources.  Is God able to do what we ask? “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:19).  He is able and He owns everything.
2. We must believe He will.  A leprous man said to Jesus, “If you will, you can heal me?”  Jesus replied, “I will, be clean.” (Matthew 8:2-3).  Jesus is the same today as He was then, He will.
3. We must believe that we are the recipient.  We are God’s children and He loves us.  “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” (Psalm 23:5).  “That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Jesus: that we may receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.” (Galatians 3:14).  If we are Christians, we have been redeemed and are heirs to the promise.
4. We must believe this so much that we don’t doubt or worry but get excited.  A double-minded man “should not think he will receive anything from the Lord.” (James 1:7).  “But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt,” (James 1:6).  If you really believe something good is going to happen, you will look for it expectantly and excitedly.
5. When we believe, we won’t sit back and wait for God to drop the answer on us but we do what’s necessary to take it.  “What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. (Matthew 11:24). That word “receive” is an action word that could be translated “take”.  Part of that is how we speak from our hearts.  “God.. who calleth those things which be not as though they were.” (Romans 4:17).  Aren’t we supposed to be like God?  Let’s start putting these five principles into practice and begin receiving what God has in store for us.