If I ask not amiss...

Another great letter from my Stake RS presidency on how and what to ask for in our prayers.
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Dear Sisters,

We are promised by God that when we ask, we shall
receive...
consider 3 Nephi 27: 28-29 ...

"whatsoever things ye shall ask the Father in my name
shall be given you. Therefore, ask, and ye shall
receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; for
he that asketh, receiveth; and unto him that knocketh,
it shall be opened."

Now, we should ask ourselves...Do I really believe
that? Do I really believe that God will answer my
prayers every time I pray? I have to admit I was
thinking ....well...sometimes that is true and
sometimes I am just not so sure. So I prayed about
having more understanding.

This is what I learned:

1. When God says something, you can count on it. His
integrity is above reproach and He does everything He
says He will do.

2. I researched several scriptures that clarified my
meaning of asking...

James 4:3 - "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask
amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts."

2 Nephi 4:35 - "...God will give liberally to him that
asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ask not
amiss..."

Helaman 10:5 - "...all things shall be done unto thee
according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that
which is contrary to my will."


So...now I am beginning to understand. I thought
about my children. I have a great desire to give them
a good education, nutritious meals, good advice, all
of the love in my heart, and anything else I feel
would make them happy and successful. But, that does
not mean that I will give them everything they ask
for...what if they ask to skip school? eat pizza
every night? avoid brushing their teeth? watch TV
until midnight every night? That is what they would
LIKE to do...

Of course I would not grant those foolish requests.
Our loving and omnipotent Father in heaven will not
grant our often short-sighted requests either. He has
a plan for us...it involves getting out of our comfort
zone...experiencing pain, doubt, and discouragement
(just like our kids experience when we require them to
obey our rules and do what they feel are hard things).

So...the key to having every prayer of ours answered
is to ask for the right things. Here are a few things
I found that we should be asking for:
1. Wisdom (James 1:5)
2. Deliverance from enemies (Psalm 143:10)
3. Goodness to those who hate us and have "done us
wrong" (Matt 5:44)
4. Food for the day (Matt 6:11)
5. Forgiveness of our sins (Matt 6:12)
6. Protection from the Evil One; this includes His
evil promptings to
gossip, cheat, lie, steal, avoid praying, be
selfish, etc.(Matt 6:13)
7. A clean heart (Psalm 51:10)
8. A soft heart (1 Nephi 2: 16)
9. Understanding (1 Kings 4:29, Proverbs 2:2)

This list could go on forever! My son and I have
started writing down our request for the day in our
journal first thing in the morning. Then, we offer
our morning prayer and follow up on what happened in
the evening...recording how our prayer was answered
that day. VERY POWERFUL!

What will you ask for today? Father is waiting to
hear from each of us!

Love,
Sister L., First Counselor
Alexandria Stake Relief Society