Are you sure?
This bookmark will be removed from all folders and any saved notes will be permanently removed.
Asking with the heart
The Bible gives us unequivocal promises that God will give us what we ask for—if we ask! Matthew says, “Ask, and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you” (7:7, Good News Translation). James adds, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God . . . and it will be given to him” (1:5, New International Version).
But haven’t we all had the experience of asking God for something and not receiving it? Over and over again the Bible counsels us to communicate with God not just with words, but with our whole heart. Asking, it turns out, has very little to do with words, or requests that we may present to God. It has everything to do with our lives—what we grow in our hearts.
About the author
Alex Cook lives in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts. A version of this article was originally published as a blog on TMC Youth's website, time4thinkers.com.

April 30, 2012 issue
View Issue-
Letters
Vicki Knickerbocker, Diane Ward, Karen Rippberger, Louise Worsham
-
'Written in heaven'
Jeff Ward-Bailey, Staff Editor
-
Superstition and witchcraft–null and void
Lyle Young
-
Thoughts aligned with God–not the stars
Michelle Nanouche
-
Let divine Love lead you
Evan Bryant
-
My prayer for the rhinos
Yvonne Prinsloo
-
Asking with the heart
Alex Cook
-
'Begone, dull care!'
Andrew Wilson
-
'There is no spot where God is not.'
Judith Hardy Olson
-
'Spiritual armor' at summer camp
Brittany Duke
-
Reprinted from The Christian Science Monitor: What's the hurry?
Katherine Stephen
-
Stay in Church
Evan Mehlenbacher
-
Insight while flying over Iraq
John Kohler
-
Silence the serpent
Kathleen Collins
-
Of cats and Christianity
Andrea Moon
-
Honor everyone
Sentinel staff
-
Women in military ministry
Sentinel staff
-
Love heals
Ute Keller
-
Leg pain quickly healed
Paul Muriuki Ngugi
-
Healing of a urinary problem
Nicolas Mupepe Lata
-
Breaking the cycle of bullies and victims
The Editors