Our relationship to God is certainly not like a magic genie, where we get to ask him for whatever we want, whenever we want. I can’t find the evidence where he affords or allows us three big requests, and is obligated to answer/perform. It doesn’t work like that. And yet, prayer, and our attached petitions, are a mysterious thing, aren’t they? Does he only answer some, and remain silent to others? Is there a special formula to follow? Is it simply a posture of the heart, or the intention behind it? How do we please or honor him in these matters?
There are instances I’ve seen or heard where people ask one thing of God.
Jewish theologian Abraham Joshua Heschel asked for wonder. Good one.
Recording artist Toby McKeehan (Tobymac)—when he started his career in 1989 asked that “God would surround him with talented people.” On all accounts, it appears to me that God answered this request. He has sustained an awarded career for over 3 decades now. (Notice he didn’t ask for fame, success, accolades, gold hits or Grammys. Yet those other things still came.)
King Solomon famously asked for wisdom. Which was granted him, along with so much more.
“Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.” — 1 Kings 3:7-12
I’ve been praying for one thing specifically for the past 15 years. My one ask, as it were. It’s deeply personal, so I’m unable to share it here. Plus, it’s between me and God. But I will say thing… I have a strange feeling that he might be answering it.
How about you? If it boiled down to one essential thing—the main thing. What would be worth that ultimate ask? If it could only be one request, that would remain with you throughout the entirety of your life, what will you ask God for? And…do you have the courage and boldness to ask for it? AND…do you have the character to sustain it over an extended period of time?