Supplication: The Act of Asking

Supplication — “the act of asking [God] earnestly and humbly.”  

Matthew 6:9-13 (AMP) “Pray, then, in this way:  ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.  Amen.]’”     

Philippians 4:6 (ESV) Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God.

Matthew 6:8 (NKJV) For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.  

If God already knows, then why do we need to ask?

1.  Asking communicates relationship

Psalm 27:8 (NLT) My heart has heard You say, "Come and talk with me."  And my heart responds, "Lord, I am coming."

“Prayer is a relationship, not a formula.” 

Matthew 7:9-11 (NLT) “You parents — if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? 10 Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake?  Of course not! 11 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him. 

2.  Asking communicates faith

Mark 10:49-51 (NLT) When Jesus heard him, He stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.” 50 Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus. 51 “What do you want Me to do for you?” Jesus asked.  

Mark 10:51-52 (NLT) “What do you want Me to do for you?”  Jesus asked.  “My Rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see!” 52 And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see…

3.  Asking communicates trust

“I want to live a fruitful, meaningful life, but I’m just not sure I can trust God.  I can trust Him as my answer to the big theological questions, but I’m not sure if I can trust Him with my dreams, my hopes, my plans.  I can trust Him ultimately, but I doubt I can trust Him immediately.  So, I’m white-knuckling my life with everything I’ve got — micromanaging my surroundings, my perception, my next step.”  —Tylor Staton

4.  Asking communicates influence 

“God’s response to our prayers is not a charade.  He does not pretend He is answering our prayer when He is only doing what He was going to do anyway.  Our requests really do make a difference in what God does or does not do.”  —Dallas Willard

So why does He want us to ask?