Ephesians 3:20 tells us that God, “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us…” Jesus tells us in John 16:23, 24, “In that day you will ask me no questions. Most assuredly I tell you, whatever you may ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now, you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full.” Thus the Lord Jesus tells us that we can ask the Father for those things we need or desire in his name. But are we taking the time to consider what we are asking for, to develop and give details about what we are seeking? Maybe we have not received our answer because our requests have been too vague or general or we have been inconsistent in applying our faith. Let us consider then how we can be systematic, thorough and unceasing in our request.
I remember back in 2004 I was trusting God for a wife. From various Bible teachers I learned how to focus my faith and develop an image of what is was seeking. I backed up my request with scripture and I visualized the outcome of my request. As a result the Lord worked to bring my future wife Dora and I together. So here is an approach that anyone can use to receive what they seeking from the Lord:
1. Write it: On a sheet of paper list your concerns, needs or desires. Leave several blank lines under each item to make additional notes. By writing out our request we want to make it clear in our minds what we are seeking and what we will say to the Father.
2. Describe it: Consider each item and write a brief description of the end result that we would like to see. We want to fill the details of our needs and desires so that we can make specific request.
3. Research it: If we do not know, find out what the Bible says in relation to our request. Some of the promises that we will find will be specific, such as promises for healing or protection. For other some requests, we will find just general promises. But which ever scriptures we find we can use to encourage our faith and utilize in our prayers. We add these scripture references to the individual requests we wrote down earlier. Using the word of God in this manner will help us sharpen our request and our faith. If it is the case that our request is something that goes against God word, the Holy Spirit will make this clear to us through the word.
4. Visualize it and meditate on it: Next we want to visualize the end result of that which we are seeking according our written description and meditate on the related scriptures verses that we found. Visualization is a vital component of our faith for our minds have the capacity to visually things that do not yet exist. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 4:18, “While we don’t look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” The things that are unseen are those that we are about to take hold of by faith based on God’s word to us. Thus, we visualize what we wrote in the description of our requests for a number of days and meditate on the accompanying scriptures. This practice develops our faith and confidence in God’s willingness and his ability to perform what he has promises. We want to be like Abraham, who according to Paul in Romans 4:19:21:
Without being weakened in faith, he didn’t consider his own body, already having been worn out, (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. Yet, looking to the promise of God, he didn’t waver through unbelief, but grew strong through faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
Remember, it is our faith and expectation in God that the writer of Hebrews says pleases our Heavenly Father.
We continue visualizing each of our results of our requests until, one by one, we become full persuaded that we have by faith that which we are seeking. But if it is difficult for us to become fully persuade, we need to ask the Holy Spirit to show us if there are any hindrances in our lives that are blocking our request.
5. Receive it: Once we have become fully persuaded we receive that thing or that result that we have been requesting in prayer with thanksgiving. Jesus taught us in Mark 11:24, “Therefore I tell you, all things whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them.” Consider your request a completed action. You are no longer believing for it rather you now have receive it and are just waiting for the manifestation or arrival. We can add the date that we received our request by faith to our written description.
6. Speak it: What shall we do while we wait for the manifestation of our request? We must continue to visualize it and give thanks for it with our mouths whenever we are reminded of our request. And we keep our words in line with what we believe God is working on behind the scenes to bring about in our lives. In this manner we are able to resist giving into doubts.
7. Maintain it: Rest patiently and wait for the Lord. Continue to visualize and speak the end result until the thing desired comes about. We must persist and not give up. David teaches us in Psalms 37:7, “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him.” Accept the grace that God provides you until your request is manifest.
Following these steps will help you receive the things that the Lord has for you!
Here is a work sheet in a PDF file to help you do these seven steps: Seven Steps to Receiving from God Work Sheet.