Deepening Our Relationship with God Through Prayer

Summary

It’s easy to avoid asking for help, whether in a store or in life, out of pride or a desire for independence. This reluctance can even seep into our relationship with God, where we might think, “God already knows what I need, so why bother asking?” But this mindset isolates us from the very relationship God desires with us. When we approach God with our needs, it’s not just about receiving gifts or blessings—it’s about deepening our relationship with Him. The act of asking, of sharing our hearts and desires, is itself a way of drawing closer to God, the giver, rather than just focusing on the gifts.

Jesus encourages us to persistently come to the Father with our requests, not because God is unaware of our needs, but because He wants us to engage with Him, to speak honestly and openly. The true treasure is not what God gives, but God Himself. In prayer, we are invited into a conversation, a relationship, where we can express our desires, our gratitude, and even our frustrations.

Sometimes, God’s answers are not what we expect. Like a loving parent, He may say “yes,” “not yet,” or “I have something better for you.” It can be hard to accept “not yet” or “something better,” especially when we are convinced we know what’s best. But as we mature in faith, we begin to see that God’s wisdom and love surpass our own understanding. Trusting in His timing and His plans is an act of faith, rooted in the knowledge that He cares for us more deeply than we can imagine.

The invitation is to persistently run to God, regardless of the answer, because the relationship itself is the greatest good. We are called to trust Him as a loving Father, to bring all our desires, joys, and frustrations to Him, and to rest in the assurance that He knows and loves us better than we know ourselves.

Key Takeaways

- Asking God for what we need is not about informing Him of our desires, but about building a relationship with Him. When we approach God honestly, we open ourselves to a deeper connection, moving beyond a transactional faith to a relational one. The act of asking is itself a form of intimacy with God. [01:48]

- The greatest good in life is not the gifts or blessings we receive, but God Himself. Focusing on the Giver rather than the gifts transforms our perspective and helps us find fulfillment in relationship, not just in answered prayers. This shift in focus is at the heart of spiritual maturity. [02:57]

- God’s answers to our prayers are sometimes “not yet” or “I have something better for you,” which can be difficult to accept. Trusting that God knows what is truly best for us requires humility and faith, especially when our desires seem urgent or obvious to us. This trust is a mark of growing spiritual maturity. [03:45]

- Persistent prayer is not about wearing God down, but about continually returning to Him as a child to a loving parent. In both our gratitude and our frustration, we are invited to relate to God honestly, knowing that He welcomes every part of our hearts. This ongoing relationship is what shapes us as His children. [05:01]

- Trusting God’s timing and wisdom means believing that He knows our hearts better than we do ourselves. Even when His answers are not what we want, we are called to rest in His loving guidance, confident that He is working for our ultimate good. This trust is the foundation of a life lived in faith. [06:10]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:30] - Struggles with Asking for Help
[01:10] - How Reluctance Affects Prayer
[01:48] - The Value of Relationship in Asking
[02:20] - Christ’s Call to Persistent Prayer
[02:57] - The Giver vs. the Gift
[03:30] - When God’s Answer Isn’t Yes
[03:45] - Learning to Trust God’s Responses
[04:20] - Maturing in Faith Through Prayer
[05:01] - Relating to God as Children
[05:40] - Bringing All Our Desires to God
[06:10] - Trusting God’s Loving Guidance
[06:30] - Final Encouragement and Amen

Study Guide

Small Group Bible Study Guide: Asking, Trust, and Relationship with God

---

### Bible Reading

Matthew 7:7-11 (ESV)
> “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 the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are 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!"

Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)
> "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

---

### Observation Questions

1. In Matthew 7:7-11, what does Jesus say about the way God responds to those who ask, seek, and knock?
2. According to Philippians 4:6-7, what are we told to do with our anxieties and requests?
3. The sermon mentions that God’s answers to prayer can be “yes,” “not yet,” or “I have something better for you.” What examples from everyday life did the speaker use to illustrate this? [02:57]
4. What does the sermon say is the greatest good we can receive from God? [01:48]

---

### Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Jesus encourage us to keep asking, seeking, and knocking, even though God already knows our needs? How does this relate to the idea of relationship with God? [01:48]
2. The sermon compares God’s responses to those of a loving parent. What does this comparison teach us about God’s character and our relationship with Him? [02:57]
3. How might our reluctance to ask for help in daily life reflect our approach to prayer and our relationship with God? [00:30]
4. What does it mean to focus on the Giver (God) rather than the gifts He gives? How does this change the way we pray and live? [01:48]

---

### Application Questions

1. The speaker admitted to avoiding asking for help, even when it would be easier. Can you think of a time when you avoided asking God (or someone else) for help out of pride or a desire for independence? What happened as a result? [00:30]
2. When you pray, do you find yourself more focused on what you want from God, or on connecting with God Himself? How could you shift your focus more toward relationship? [01:48]
3. The sermon says God sometimes answers “not yet” or “I have something better for you.” Share about a time when God’s answer to your prayer was different than what you wanted. How did you respond? Looking back, do you see God’s wisdom in that answer? [02:57]
4. What are some practical ways you can be more honest and open with God in your prayers, sharing not just your requests but also your frustrations and gratitude? [05:01]
5. The speaker encourages us to persistently run to God, no matter the answer. What might it look like for you to keep coming to God in prayer, even when you feel discouraged or unheard? [05:01]
6. Is there an area of your life right now where you need to trust God’s timing or wisdom, even though it’s hard? What would it look like to rest in His loving guidance this week? [06:10]
7. How can you remind yourself daily that the greatest treasure is not what God gives, but God Himself? Are there habits or practices you could start to help you focus on your relationship with Him? [02:57]

---

Devotional

Day 1: Persistent Prayer Builds Relationship with God
When we approach God with our needs, it is not just about receiving answers or blessings, but about deepening our relationship with Him. By persistently coming to God in prayer, we open ourselves to a genuine conversation with our loving Father, sharing our hearts and desires, and allowing Him to respond. This ongoing dialogue is what draws us closer to God, making the relationship itself the greatest gift, rather than the things we ask for. [01:48]

Luke 11:9-13 (ESV)
"And I tell you, 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 the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

Reflection: When was the last time you brought your true desires and frustrations to God in prayer, not just your requests? How might you approach Him today as a loving Father who wants to hear from you?


Day 2: Trusting God’s Timing and Wisdom
It can be difficult to accept when God’s answer to our prayers is “not yet” or “I have something better,” especially when we feel certain about what we need. Yet, just as a loving parent sometimes withholds or delays a gift for a child’s good, God’s responses are always rooted in His perfect wisdom and love for us. Trusting in His timing and His knowledge of what is truly best for us is an act of faith that deepens our reliance on Him. [02:57]

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

Reflection: Is there a prayer you feel God has not answered or has delayed? How can you choose to trust His timing and wisdom with that specific situation today?


Day 3: God Desires Honest Relationship, Not Isolation
Assuming that God already knows our needs and therefore not bringing them to Him can lead to a sense of isolation and distance in our relationship with Him. God invites us to come to Him openly, to share our hearts, desires, and even frustrations, because He values the relationship and wants us to experience closeness with Him, not separation. [01:48]

Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Reflection: Are there areas of your life where you have stopped bringing your needs or feelings to God? What is one thing you can honestly share with Him in prayer today?


Day 4: God’s Response Is Rooted in His Love
God’s answers to our prayers—whether yes, not yet, or something better—are always given out of His deep love for us. Even when we struggle to understand His response, we can trust that He knows our hearts better than we do and is always working for our ultimate good as a loving Father. [02:57]

Romans 8:28 (ESV)
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."

Reflection: Think of a time when God’s answer to your prayer was different than what you expected. How did you see His love and goodness in the outcome, even if it took time to recognize?


Day 5: Prayer Is for Thanksgiving and Frustration Alike
God invites us to come to Him not only with our requests, but also with our gratitude for blessings and our frustrations when things don’t go as we hope. Relating to God in all circumstances, as a child would to a loving parent, helps us grow in trust and intimacy with Him, knowing He cares about every part of our lives. [02:57]

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV)
"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Reflection: What is one thing you are thankful for and one thing you are frustrated about right now? Take a moment to bring both honestly to God in prayer today.

Quotes

So when I go into stores, usually there's those stores where they have a worker stationed at the front, like a sentry, they're waiting for you, and they ask, is there anything I can help you find today? And I always say no, every single time. Even if I have absolutely no idea where the thing I need is, and so then I'll just spend the next 15 minutes just roaming through the store, going up and down aisles, trying to figure out where I need to be. And you can call that stubbornness and pride, or you can call that love of the game. But there's that hesitancy to want to ask for things, and that's bled into a lot of different places in my life, and that's even bled into my prayer, because a lot of the times, and I think we can have moments like this, too, where we say, well, God knows our hearts and our minds, and so he should just give us what we need, and we shouldn't have to go to him and ask for those things. [00:00:14] (59 seconds)  #LoveTheGameOfAsking Edit Clip

But if you think about that for a moment, how isolating is that? To say, God, you know what my heart is, just give me the things that I need, and then other than that, don't bother with me. That's not... that's very isolating, and that cuts us off from that relationship with him. [00:01:14] (20 seconds)  #ConnectionOverIsolation Edit Clip

And that's ultimately what Christ is pointing to in this Gospel, when he says we should persistently run to the Lord to ask for whatever we need. Because it's not the gifts or the blessings of God that are the greatest goods that we can receive in this life, it's God himself. Everything points to relationship with God himself. [00:02:13] (21 seconds)  #RelationshipOverGifts Edit Clip

And so, in going to him and asking for those things, we are able to relate with him, to speak our heart to him, tell him what it is we desire, what it is we want, and for him to respond back to us. The more important thing is the relationship with the gift giver and not the gift itself. that's what Christ is pointing to. [00:02:34] (27 seconds)  #TrustInGodsTiming Edit Clip

And I think that that can be difficult especially when when we go to the Lord and ask for things that his answer isn't always an immediate yes and those of you with children will probably know this a lot of the times and especially if you remember back to when you were a kid there were a lot of things that you would ask your parents for just things that you would want and sometimes they would say yes but a lot of times they would say no and it wasn't until especially for me growing up that I realized that oh a lot of those things that I asked for weren't actually what was best for me even though I thought it was and it took that time of maturing and growing up to realize that and I think that's very true for us too where we go to the Lord we ask for things and he doesn't immediately say yes we go oh God's ignoring me he doesn't really care about what I want what my heart desires no he does he does care about what your heart desires even more than we do but we have to trust that he actually is working towards what is actually good for us what is actually best for us [00:03:04] (65 seconds)  #FaithInBetterPlans Edit Clip

So I think the ultimate call for us is to not be afraid to persistently run to the Lord no matter what his answer is because firstly that relationship with him is the ultimate good that we're working towards in our life that growing closer to God as his children to be able to run to him to say to him what we what we desire what we want to go to him with those prayers of Thanksgiving for the things that have gone well and also those prayers of frustration for the things that don't seem to be going well to relate to him as any child would relate to their father [00:04:49] (39 seconds) Edit Clip

But then also to trust in his response if it's not yet but to know that that's probably what's that is what is best for us or if the response is I have something else in store to trust that to to trust that he knows our hearts better than we know it ourselves and to trust in his loving guidance as a father [00:05:28] (24 seconds) Edit Clip