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You don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it (James 4:2b, NLT).
I have three insane prayers that I’m asking God to answer in 2025. And to be honest, I’ve asked these same requests in 2024, 2023, 2022, and 2021. . . starting in 2016.
That’s nine years without an answer.
Now you’re thinking, “So much for Pastor Grant as the spiritual giant I thought he was.” I don’t blame you for these disparaging thoughts. I also question my faith, sanity, and maturity every time I pray for these requests.
Please, God, build my faith!
I keep asking for specific requests because each of these requests arose in my spirit during a time of peace in the presence of God. Through the years, during my devotions, I’ve received many insane desires and purposes that I’ve put into specific requests.
I believe this passage. . .
You will make known to me the way of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever (Psalm 16:11, ESV).
In the presence of the God of the created universe, I sense His goodness, know His joy, and know that in His right hand are pleasures for me! From this knowledge of the greatness of God, my insane requests, though immense to me, seem puny to God.
It’s not about resources when asking God, but if it’s His will.
Still, after nine years of praying my three insane prayers, my patience wears thin. Come on, God, answer them in 2025!
Why has God not answered my prayers and even your prayers? I’ve had years to think about this with my three prayers, and I’ve listed some thoughts below.
- Am I praying for my pleasure or God’s purposes?
You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions [pleasures] (James 4:3).
Prayer requests can be totally God’s will but originate from false motives. If I pray that a million new believers will be discipled through First Steps Conversations, with the motive of personal aggrandizement, God might purify the “ask” so that His “yes” doesn’t defeat me spiritually.
- Thinking the prayer is too big or costs too much.
My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19, NASB).
Most businesses fail because of a lack of resources, not because the idea is bad.
With an investor of unlimited resources, most ministries fail from a lack of faith rather than a lack of vision. Taking the Great Commission seriously to disciple the nations, should we pray for three hundred or three million dollars?
If God gives us a big calling, let’s not undercut His will with a fear of asking big.
- Pray smaller prayers with the Kingdom in mind.
We learn to pray by making and then receiving answers for our daily needs, as small answers are the path to larger requests and bigger answers. If we want to win a million people to Jesus, pray for the first one hundred.
As Jesus said. . .
The master said, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!” (Matthew 25:23, NLT).
That’s it, my three insane prayer requests for 2025 and what I’ve learned about praying faith-filled requests. I didn’t list my requests specifically, but they are embedded in this Interruption. See if you can find them and. . .
Agree with me in prayer for 2025!