3 Nephi 18:20

"And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you."
3 Nephi 18:20


This is from a chapter when Christ is on earth, talking to the people about prayer. I really like it. I don't know that it is necessarily always easy to have this kind of faith up front, but that is part of the process of prayer. As we talk to God daily in prayer, and get to know him, we learn more and more that he cares about us and wants to give us those things that will assist us in this life. This verse goes over some specific requirements for our requests. Firstly, when we pray (always to the Father), we should do it in the name of Jesus Christ. Secondly, our request has to be right... in accordance with the gospel and God's will. We can't ask for anything that will hurt us or other people, or that we are going to use for a questionable purpose. Or rather, we *can* ... but we won't get it from God. And thirdly, we have to believe... have faith that God will grant us our righteous request. Sometimes that is hard, when we're down, or when we lose some hope... but as we develop a relationship with God through prayer (or perhaps renew a relationship), I think that we start to understand how much God *wants* to bless us and help us... and that he will indeed grant us the good desires of our hearts, as we come to him, and work towards them in our lives. And I think that part of that believing is working towards it... making our lives ready to receive the blessing that we've asked for. Today, let's examine our lives, and make ready for the blessings that we want, and then go to God and humbly ask for them. He loves us, and if the things that we ask fit into our lives and won't hurt us, he would love to grant them to us. :)