Be Specific

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 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 what is good to those who ask Him!” Matthew 7:7-11

The word “generic” has entered the mainstream of our language. We can buy generic drugs at the pharmacy and walk over to the supermarket to buy a wide array of generic foods. The dictionary defines generic as “applicable or referring to all members of a genus or class.” In other words, generic is a term that can refer to a multitude of products in a category.

Could the term also describe your prayer life? Do you pray generically, “Lord, please bless my family, business, and relationships today. Amen.” What if you handled your other transactions in that manner? That’s like bringing your car into the mechanic’s shop and telling him to fix your car without identifying the problem.

We have to be detail oriented in our business and family affairs in order to be successful. Likewise, God expects us to be specific in our prayer life. If we are not specific, we may not even know if God has answered because we have not presented our petitions before Him.

A growing relationship with Christ is cultivated when He specifically answers our requests. It builds our trust and confidence and reveals His intimate care for us.

“...let your requests be made known to God.”
Philippians 4:6