Luke 11:8-9
8 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needs. 9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and all of you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
God won't just throw stuff at you. He said you should ask. Do that. In all your asking ask for wisdom so you won't be asking for stuff that is not according to His will.
In context: Read Luke 11:5-13
James 4:2-3
2 You lust (desire), and have not: you kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: you fight and war, yet you have not, because you ask not. 3 You ask, and receive not, because you ask amiss, that you may consume it upon your lusts.
John 15:7-8
7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; so shall you be my disciples.
___________
Proverbs 4:5-7
5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. 6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve you: love her, and she shall keep you. 7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all your getting get understanding.
If you understand what you need to get (even in priority), then you ought to be asking for it.
James 1:5-8
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally, and reproaches not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
May your priorities be well-ordered.
Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
___________
1 John 3:22
And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
You must understand who "we" is. Your understanding of your walk must match that of a saint like those this epistle was written to. Now we are taught "we are all sinners", and remain sinners as we get no good news in fact... Well, that's a problem. When you read the bible, you must understand who it is addressing or speaking about, otherwise you will use the word deceitfully, deceiving your own self first of all. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), and the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). That's the bad news. The good news is about being delivered (saved) from bondage to sin that leads to destruction, and receiving the gift of eternal life. As a sinner who hears the gospel, you must repent and be be converted (Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19)/changed/transformed by your obedience to the truth of the gospel. Where you're getting at is to be made righteous, no longer a sinner (Luke 18:14; Luke 15:7; Romans 5:19). Read Psalm 1, read Psalm 34:15-16, and decide and know which you are right now. It's one of two paths you can be on. Do with the lies you have learned what needs to be done with them: reject them and love and embrace and walk in the truth. Only the truth (John 14:6) saves.
John 9:31
Now we know that God hears not sinners*: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and does his will, him he hears.
If you are coming to God with a repentant heart, seeking reconciliation with Him, He will hear you. If you are serious about drawing near to God, He will hear your cry as you seek his face.
James 4:8
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
If you didn't know that faith in Jesus means you trust Him enough to follow Him (Luke 9:23; Matthew 10:38) and you love Him enough to obey Him (John 14:15; John 15:14) and remain faithful to Him, don't run from the truth, but start doing well right now. Ask for the first thing you ought to ask for, which is forgiveness for your own personal sins. That's how you start the relationship with God. As an enemy of Him because of sin, you answer his call and choose to make peace with Him, that is, to be reconciled with Him (Romans 5:6-10).
You can open your bible and see for yourself that the gospel is not about "accepting Jesus", if that means anything other than coming to God in repentance, with a heart ready for his kingdom (reign) to come to your life, as you choose to submit to Him and to love Him (obey Him - John 14:15). You must accept your cross (Matthew 10:38) and endeavor rather to be accepted by God (2 Corinthians 5:9) in all that you do (actions that follow your believing). You repent, first of all.
Mark 1:14-15
14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent, and believe* the gospel.
*Implies observance or obedience to what you are taught:
Matthew 28:19-20a
19 Go therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: 20a Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you...
If your walk as a Christian had been misrepresented to you, go to God with a repentant heart and ask Him to forgive of your sins. It's not that your "past, present, and future" sins are forgiven in advance. God will forgive your passed sins, and in doing that He erases your criminal record because of your faith in Jesus' blood that was shed for that. That's how the relationship starts, with an "agreement" between you and God about what is good or evil, light or darkness... (Isaiah 5:20), and the understanding that from that point on you will choose good, light, truth, righteousness, holiness... That is "common sense" as far as God is concerned. You'd better mind his eternal word. Then you start doing what is right and are called righteous (1 John 2:7; Luke 1:75; Ephesians 4:22-24), no longer continuing to sin wilfully (Romans 6:1; Hebrews 10:26). You do not become incapable of sinning, but in your heart you are choosing to love God rather than to disobey Him and sin, and you choose to remain faithful to Him as to a spouse, walking with Him that way, on the path of holiness and righteousness (Luke 1:75).
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins*, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
*Implies forsaking the sins you're confessing to God. You plead guilty (Luke 18:13). When you're standing there before God, asking Him to throw away your criminal record because of Jesus' sacrifice, you are not at the same time planning to keep on sinning. No, your heart is changed at that point. You don't want to be on God's wrong side at that point. Your mind is changed about sin as you come to see eye to eye with God about what sin is and wholeheartedly regret in your heart all the sins you're convicted of and choose to no longer continue on the same path of committing sin that leads to death. You understand why Jesus had to die to redeem you personally and you call upon Him to save you (Romans 10:13). You actually act like you do believe the truth:
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
↓
2 Timothy 2:19
Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are his. And, Let everyone that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity."
Romans 11:22
Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in his goodness: otherwise you also shall be cut off.
___________
Can God use you? Please share this message if you believe it can bless others and lead them to the deliverance they need. If you still believe that but won't share, you may be choosing to not be the light of the world (Matthew 5:14-16). Search into your soul and find out what that means. Urgently! You can judge your own self, it's not forbidden. Examine your fruit (2 Corinthians 13:5). You shall be known by your fruit (Luke 6:43-46; Matthew 12:33) and God will judge each one according to their works (Romans 2:6; Revelation 22:11-12; James 2:14-26).
John 15:4-8
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, except it abides in the vine; no more can you, except you abide in me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing. 6 If a man abides not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; so shall you be my disciples.
___________
1 Peter 4:17-19
17 For the time has come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begins with us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous are scarcely saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
1 Corinthians 11:31-32
31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, so that we should not be condemned with the world.
See also:
Standing In Position To Receive By Faith (guidance for prayer)
