How to Ask God Questions
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Enemies of your peace:
Self pity
self-pity is when we think throwing a fit, or getting sympathy from others, will help us.
you can’t have both. What are you seeking? A pat on the head? Or constant Peace and Joy?
You can either get sympathy from everyone because of how terrible everything is. Or, you can have strength.
If you feel down, you will be tempted to have self-pity. Thinking that throwing a fit will get attention. God doesn’t work like that. We learn this as children.
Do: REACH OUT! Reach out for prayer.
Don’t: complain, assume God has abandoned you, or assume God will let you be destroyed.
Do: Go to God first, with the proper questions.
Don’t: Turn to people before God.
Do: talk about yourself as deserving, worthy, and righteous.
Don’t: talk about yourself as someone for whom bad things ALWAYS happen, or are expected, or are the norm.
Talk about yourself as someone who deserves bad things, or who is helpless.
How you talk about yourself, your situation, and God, will affect what you believe.
How do you talk about yourself to others? How do you talk about the situation to others?
Try it!
2) Self-Righteousness
Self-righteousness can make you unable to admit you need God to give you peace. As though, not having peace makes you weak.
You are under attack as a believer. Only God’s presence and God’s voice can bring peace. nothing else.
It’s not “weak” to admit you need God. It’s reality.
3) Impatience
Impatience makes you think you need to take matters into your own hands.
But your hands don’t bring peace. Peace is a fruit of the SPIRIT, not the flesh. It cannot come from you.
Peace is given to you, by God’s presence.
If anything is interrupting God’s presence, you won’t have peace.
Impatience makes you believe it’s too late, or it’s never going to happen, or things are hopeless. But actually, things are always happening with God. It just might not be what you expected, but things are always happening.
4) Stubbornness
Maybe He hasn’t done things how you wanted, when you wanted, or exactly what you wanted.
Maybe you’re angry with Him for not asking your permission, or not doing it how you would have.
Is your stubbornness worth no peace? no joy?
You’ve got to go to Him to get your peace and joy back.
How to ask God a Question:
Part of having faith is having *correct* faith.
I’ll talk about this more in a future lesson.
For now, realize God is a real being. So you must address the real God. Not the God you made up. Not the God your fears tell you about.
Many times, your prayers can hurt you!
Many times, you rob yourself of your peace through your view of God or yourself. It’s not even the enemy!
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
You cannot even come to Him if you believe incorrectly about Him.
It’s very VERY easy to believe incorrectly about Him.
You also can’t come to Him if you don’t believe you can come to Him!
You also can’t come to Him if you believe you *earned* the right to come to Him.
16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
The question you ask God exposes what you believe about Him.
For example: God, am I going to be destroyed? Are you going to abandon me? Do you love me?
Before you ask God ANYTHING, pass it through a scripture filter.
Here are just THREE scriptures that will eliminate 99% of every fear-based question you could have:
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Bonus: Romans 8:32
32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
So before you ask God, did you remember He’s a rewarder? Did you remember He sent His Son JUST so He could spend all day with you every day?
Did you remember you’re a joint heir with Christ and all of Christ’s inheritance is also your’s?
Instead of assuming bad in your question, tell God you know it’s probably wrong, but you want Him to speak to it. You’re struggling. You believe something based in fear and you know His voice will bring peace.
THE ENEMY SPEAKS TOO!!!
THE ENEMY SPEAKS TOO!!!
2. Don’t ask Him a question. Ask Him to speak to a belief you know is wrong.
Many times, looking at the belief exposes how silly it is.
The belief is the root of your fear or depression.
DON’T:
God, am I going to be okay?
Am I going to be alone?
Why am I experiencing this?
Why are you doing this?
Where are you?
Don’t you see what’s happening?
DO:
God, I am scared I might not be okay.
God, I have trouble seeing how this will work out for my good.
God, I don’t believe i’m good enough, or I that deserve your power or answer.
God, I’m scared I’ll be alone.
God, I’m scared I might not find a new job in time.
What do you notice about those fears or beliefs?
None of those beliefs include God. None of them accuse Him of anything.
They’re focused on the belief itself.
3. Address Him correctly.
When Jesus says, “In my name…” it’s very important we understand who it is we are going to.
Don’t just call Him God, make it personal.
Instead of saying, “God, I’m scared it might not be okay.”
Say, “Creator of all things, who created the whole world for me to experience You, who knows all information, who can orchestrate any event, who loves me so much, you sent Your Son just son I could have constant fellowship with you, and who raised Your son from the dead, I’m scared it might not be okay.”
11 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!
7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
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.
8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.
address Him specific to your need or fear.
If you need a job, He’s the God who always provides, who knows what you need before you ask, who owns all resources.
If you are facing a battle and need victory (a tough conversation, a difficult family member, someone out for you at work…): The God who has always won every battle, who gives us weapons, who loves showing Himself mighty.
PRACTICE!!!
Loneliness? Fear? Difficult situation?
