{"id":2506,"date":"2015-10-22T10:57:37","date_gmt":"2015-10-22T14:57:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/prayerplainandsimple\/?p=2506"},"modified":"2015-10-22T10:57:37","modified_gmt":"2015-10-22T14:57:37","slug":"is-it-okay-to-pray-to-be-blessed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/prayerplainandsimple\/2015\/10\/is-it-okay-to-pray-to-be-blessed.html","title":{"rendered":"Is it Okay To Pray To Be Blessed?"},"content":{"rendered":"

With all my heart I want your blessings.<\/em><\/strong>
\n Be merciful as you promised. (Psalm 119:58)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Our last post talked about James 4:3 \u2013 “And even when you ask, you don\u2019t get it because your motives are all wrong\u2014you want only what will give you pleasure.” Does this conflict with the Scripture above? The Psalmist is crying out for God’s blessings and the fulfillment of His promises. In many of our churches today, asking for blessing is frowned upon severely. Those who teach that God desires to bless his people are censured severely, just as Jesus was censured when he healed people on the Sabbath.<\/p>\n

Is it okay to ask God for blessing? Yes, as long as the blessing we are asking for is not for selfish purposes! So let\u2019s cry out for great blessing, and let\u2019s share that blessing with the world! Yes, ’tis true:\u00a0In this world we will have trouble! We aren’t expecting a challenge-free, get-out-of-trouble-free life! But the blessing helps to compensate for the trials the devil throws our way, and we can be more than conquerors through Him who loves us and showers His blessing upon us in both spiritual and real-live, physical ways!<\/p>\n

Father,<\/em><\/p>\n

You have set before me blessing and cursing, life and death. This choice is a no-brainer! I choose blessing and life! With all my heart I ask for Your blessing on my soul, mind, body, health, desires, relationships, family, finances, work, recreation, rest, sleep, intellect, dreams, imagination, creativity, knowledge, temperament, bank account, investments, possessions, my home, and upon every single aspect of my life. Thank you! You are a good Father, and you long to pour out your blessing on my life as I walk in Your ways of love! Teach me! Change me! Forgive me! Make me a recipient as well as a conduit of your grace and lovingkindness!<\/em><\/p>\n

In Jesus\u2019 Name and for the sake of the Kingdom, Amen.<\/em><\/p>\n

Sweet caveat: \u00a0The blessing is dependent on my commitment to God, to follow His ways and obey His Word: \u00a0\u201cNow listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. For I command you this day to love the Lord your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy.\u201d (Deut. 30:15,16)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With all my heart I want your blessings. Be merciful as you promised. (Psalm 119:58) Our last post talked about James 4:3 \u2013 “And even when you ask, you don\u2019t get it because your motives are all wrong\u2014you want only what will give you pleasure.” Does this conflict with the Scripture above? 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