The limiting mindset that can hinder your prayers

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Some Christians are limited by the very things they believe God can and will do for them.

They think that God is a stingy Father who does not lavish His love on sinners.

They think that if they ask God for something good, He won't respond because they don't deserve it.

They think that it's impossible to ask God for something big, because they think contentment means being happy with what they have, even when they're actually needy.

Friends, these and other like beliefs are wrong.

This article is written for those who think God doesn't want to bless them with good things because they either: don't deserve it, feel it's wrong to ask God for such things, and/or think Godliness and contentment mean being happy with needless suffering "for the sake of Christ."

If you're that person, let this article help you get free.

Big prayers, bigger God

So many Christians suffer from a spirit of poverty, more known as a "poverty mentality." They are content with little things because they believe that it's pretty honorable to suffer and live simply "for the Lord."

This kind of thinking has crippled so many Christians around the globe. It's about time we realize this very important thing:

That our God is our good Father who lavishes His love on us His children, meets our needs according to His riches and glory in Christ, and will give us good things when we ask of Him:

"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!" (Matthew 7:11)

God is not surprised when we ask blessings or provisions from Him. He's not taken aback, nor is He shocked when we pray for big things.

He actually encourages it:

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7)

"And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him." (Matthew 6:7-8)

""Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." (Matthew 6:31-33)

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask[c] anything in My name, I will do it." (John 14:12-14)

"Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him." (1 John 5:14-15)

In closing

Friends, there's no prayer or request that's too big for God to answer. He is "able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us" (see Ephesians 3:20.

The thing is, what do we ask for anyway? If we ask for the wrong things or with the wrong motives, we shouldn't expect to receive anything:

"You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures." (James 4:3)

What we should desire is something that will bring glory to Him, not to us. That's how it should be.

"...to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." (Ephesians 3:21)