Human life is full of challenges and tribulations, which may be hard for humans to face without hope of conquering them. Christians get hope from their belief that God will give them the strength to overcome all these challenges. In the Bible, we learn about many people like Jesus and Moses who go through challenges, and God helps them in these challenges. They teach humans that they don’t have to give up since God is there to help them through all the trials that may come their way. All this takes us to our main topic, how to ask God for help.
Through prayers and supplication. According to Philippians 4:6, the scripture implies that we can ask God for his help through prayer, petition, and thanksgiving. Also, Ephesians 6:18 says that we should pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of requests. These verses suggest that we can ask God for help through prayers, and he will grant it unto us.
So, how often can you ask God for help? How do you pray to God for help? Does the Bible teach Christians how to pray to God for help? Does God answer all prayers for help? Read till the end to find the answers to these questions.
How often can you ask God for help?
1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “pray continually.” This shows that you are not limited to a certain number of times while asking for God’s help. You can ask for God’s help as many times as you need the help and at any place and time. The Bible says that we are God’s children, and it is his will to guide us through our life journey.
In the Bible, there are many people whom God helped, and no matter the times they asked for His help, God always helped them. In the book of Exodus, we learn about the life of Moses. He got God’s help from when he was a baby until he died. For instance, Exodus 17:4-6 reads, “Moses prayed earnestly to the Lord and said, “What can I do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.5 The Lord said to Moses, “Take some of the leaders of Israel with you and go on ahead of the people.” Take along the stick with which you struck the Nile. I will stand before you on a rock at Mount Sinai. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” Moses did so in the presence of the leaders of Israel.” This is one of the many times that Moses prayed for God’s help, and God helped him.
However, according to the teachings of Jesus, especially from Mathew 6:7, “In praying, don’t use vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking.” Therefore, it is wise to ask for God’s help by mentioning the challenges you need help with and believing that God will do it.
How do you pray to God for help?
There are so many ways that you can pray for God’s help. One way to pray to God for help is through his only son’s name, “JESUS.” According to John 14:13-14, “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it”. From this verse, Christians learn that they should pray for help through the name of Jesus Christ, the son of God.
Another way to pray to God for help is by believing that God has heard you and will do it. Mark 11:24 is one of the many verses that teach Christians that God’s help is granted to them if they pray and believe. Trust that the Lord has heard your cry and is in control. As long as you have Faith in God, all your troubles are taken away from you. A good example is the story of Abraham, who is said to be the father of Faith. He prayed to God to give his wife a son even in her old age, and God granted it because he believed that God would do it.
Another way to pray to God for help is by not using vain repetition. According to Mathew 6:7, Jesus teaches that we should not pray for one thing repeatedly. He says that God hears your prayer for help once you pray the first time, and you should leave it to him to answer. He discourages Christians from praying like the Gentiles, who use vain repetitions when asking for God’s help.
Also, you should pray and be righteous when praying to God for help. Psalm 34:17 reads, “When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.” The Bible implies that when the righteous pray to God, he will hear them and deliver them from all their troubles. For you to be righteous, you have to repent your sins. He will forgive you and make you righteous. You also have to live according to God’s will, which will please him; hence, when you pray for His help, he will surely grant it to you. 2 Chronicles 7:14.
Does the Bible teach Christians how to pray to God for help?
From the teachings in Mathew 6:5-8 “Jesus teaches about prayers.” Jesus teaches Christians to pray in privacy and not show off like hypocrites. This includes all prayers, even the prayers for help. He says you should not be hypocrites who want to show that they know how to pray or like gentiles who use vain repetition.
According to Ephesians 6:18, the Bible says, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people”. This teaches us that we should pray through the holy Spirit and in consistency and also pray for the people of the Lord so that God can help them too.
From the story of Jesus fasting in the wilderness, in the book of Mathew 4:1-14, we learn that we should pray and fast. Fasting means sacrificing the things we love for a while and using the time to pray to God. This enables Christians to connect with God and ask for his help sincerely. Jesus needed God’s help to conquer the temptations he was facing, and God granted his needs, for he fasted while praying. He is granted wisdom ad strength that enables him to pass the temptations the devil threw.
Also, as per Genesis15:2-5, we learn that we should pray to God for help through conversation with him. From these verses, we see Abraham conversing with God as he asks for descendants, and God answers his prayers instantly by telling him to go outside and count the stars. Christians are taught to pray to God for help and be ready to listen to his answer.
Does God answer all prayers for help?
1 John 5:14 says, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” This verse teaches us that God answers the prayers for help that are of good intentions and suitable for the ones asked according to his will and us.
The Bible also teaches that God has three answers to the prayer for help. He can answer your cry for help by saying Yes, No, or Wait. We learn when we ask for good help that does not involve evil wishes and deeds, God will answer the prayer by saying yes and granting our will instantly.
For the prayer for help, he says. No is when we don’t have good intentions when asking for his help. For example, when you ask for God’s help to kill someone, he will answer you with a No since you are doing an evil thing.
The prayers for help that God says to wait are the ones he thinks we are not ready to receive help yet. He takes his time until the time is right for Him to grant you the help you need. We should note that when God answers “Wait,” it does not mean that he will not grant it. We should be patient and remain consistent in prayer until the right time comes.
References
- Don’t pray for God’s help in vain repetition.
- God will do whatever you ask through the name of Jesus
- Pray and believe when asking for God’s help
- Conversation with God as you pray for help
- God’s three answers to prayers for help
As a devout Christian, I have always been passionate about the Christian faith. This inspired me to pursue a degree in Religious studies and a Masters in Theology in college. I have also been privileged to teach 4 Christian courses in a college and university. Since I am dedicated to spreading the word of God, I am actively involved in the Church. Additionally, I share his word online and cover diverse topics on the Christian faith through my platform. You can read more about me on the about us page.
