Praying Is Not Begging – Faith Does Not Beg

man-begging-300-webby Rex Rouis

God is moved by faith and faith does not beg. Begging is fearful and does not understand the heart and will of God. The will of God is to heal everyone through the operation of faith. We gain knowledge of God’s will through the promises in the Bible and once they are settled deep in our heart, faith is created. We release that faith to God and He moves on our behalf.

His blessing does not come because He loves someone enough or more than someone else. He loves everybody in the world exactly the same. But those that have faith are the ones who receive. It is His system. He chose to set it up that way – read this article. He is also generous with His mercy – read this article.

For God so love the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life…..He that believes on Him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:16, 18

Faith does not beg. Seeking God and crying out for Him to work in our life is different from begging. One, knows that God can and ultimately will work, the other is fearful that He will not work and is pleading for Him to change His mind. Seeking God shows perseverance and has a foundation of faith. Begging has a measure of manipulation within it – “If I can just show God that I really need it maybe He will move on my behalf.” Begging also carries with it a component of shame. You beg from someone who may be indifferent to your situation and may be able to help; you seek someone who cares and is able to help.

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 he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Matthew 7:7,8

Here is a hard truth; God is not moved by need. He is moved by faith. He is touched by our need but He responds to our faith.

When you ask for something, don’t have any doubts. A person who has doubts is like a wave that is blown by the wind and tossed by the sea. A person who has doubts shouldn’t expect to receive anything from the Lord. James 1:6, 7

And faith does not come by begging. He will give us the faith but we must first do our part to get it. Step one is to receive the hope that God can and does want to heal you. This is done by learning from the scriptures His intent to heal. Jesus made it a big part of His life and ministry to ‘heal all those who were oppressed by the Devil, because God was with Him.’ He is still doing the same today.

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. Acts 10:38

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. Matthew 9:35

Our hope increases as we become persuaded that our answer is a real possibility. Hope primarily comes from reading and meditating on the scriptures. Once those hopes (from the scriptures) come alive in our heart, faith appears. It comes by a hearing in the heart from God. It is the personal confirmation by God on one’s hopes, thus making them a reality. Hope knows that the answer is a possibility; faith knows that it is a reality. Hope motivates you to seek God till you get the answer. There is no fear involved. Begging is motivated by fear and does not know the will of God. Faith begins where the will of God is KNOWN.

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the (spoken) word of Christ. Romans 10:17 ESV

Search the scriptures and read stories of God healing people just like you. The Gospels are full of them. Those people had needs, concerns, and fears just like you. Through hope and faith, seek a loving God who knows what you need and wants to give you the answer.

And when you are praying (seeking), do not use meaningless repetition (begging) as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. “So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. Matthew 6:7,8

“So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.”

Comments

  1. I agree to what you say but when you look from side of a beggar he or she are forced into begging by the circumstances and situations that nature and other humankind bring upon them. A person who prays sincerely but suddenly he or she finds himself or herself hit by a big storm of crises and where they are searching for God and God keeps quiet. That crises pushes many to beg for mercy and miracle when they come before God. Psalm 51:17 says, “…a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”
    Secondly, we are always receiving and our prayers are all but full of our wishes. In short everything that we have is God given and neither our prayers or praises could come in equal to what God has done.
    Many Christians loose faith and quiet ministry because the church doesn’t understands them in their desperation of searching God in the midst of crises of their prayers not being answered.

    1. As we closely approach 2023, I know that as children of a God who loves us so much that he gave his Son for us, we do not have to beg Him to fulfill our every need. We lean on His word and His promises. God will never leave me or forsake me. I pray that as we enter the new year, my faith will continue to grow. God will take care of his children.

    2. Give me a break.. I’m a firm believer in God but there is no point in letting someone suffer depression for so long, NONE

    3. Give me a break.. I’m a firm believer in God but there is no point in letting someone suffer depression for so long, and no help. NONE

  2. I believe that God can do anything..and the bibles says before we ask God already knew because he is all knowing..Jesus tells the parable of the unjust judge and the widow, and the midnight friend(in luke) to be persistent in prayer and asking, is that begging if God already knew our needs.. If i continue asking God the same thing over n over, doesn’t that thing becomes an idol in my life?? ..the bible says he who created the ear can hear and he who created the eye can see…( google the phrases i mentioned above for the bible verses) ..i still don’t understand the difference between begging and asking or seeking… May God reveal it for me in Jesus name amen..

  3. Without faith, it is impossible to please God.

    Thank you very much for this great piece.

  4. Is being specific about your own needs to God begging or I just have to meditate upon God’s word?

  5. Matthew 6 9-13 “Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.'”

    Cambridge Dictionary defines Beg: “to ask for money, or to ask someone to do something in an urgent way” “to make a very strong and urgent request” “to ask for food or money because you are poor”

    Miriam Webster defined Beg: “to ask for food or money because you are poor:” “to ask for food or money because you are poor:” “to ask for food or money because you are poor:”

    There is no indication that the meaning of begging requires that one would use repetition to do so…
    On the other hand, God is moved by our earnest pleas.
    Luke 7:13
    When the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her, and said to her, “Do not weep.”

    In the midst of life’s pain and suffering such as the loss of a child, a parent, etc, when we are in deep distress, God has no problem with our earnest and urgent request. There are starving people all over the world that should not feel the least bit guilty about begging our loving God for daily bread. God Bless You!

    1. Author

      Asking God earnestly because we are His child -yes. Begging like we are worthless sinners – no. Seek Him as children, knowing that He loves you as children. My kids do not come to me begging, even if they are in dire need. Love you. Rex

        1. Praying to God, i e begging God for help is completely different than all the people that beg and harass claiming God’s name to get things. I think that’s what the passage is about if you pray and believe in God then there is no need to beg others because God will provide for you what you need not always what you want. Maybe you have to be hungry for a few days that’s what he’s teaching you is a lesson and patience and preservation. It just shows God when you beg other people instead of pray that you don’t have faith he will come through and provide.

      1. How about ‘forgiveness’? Do we beg God for forgiveness? Like what David did when Nathan informed him of his sins against God and God’s wrath against him and he (David) went on his kneels “…..” God to forgive him.

        Can that be called begging?

        1. I don’t think that David laid on his face to beg God to for give him of his sin, but rather to plead with God to allow his and bathsheba child to live. Because David became aware of the consonquences of his sin, whicch was his child will die. Thats why once the child died David got up and dust off then ate. Because God will was done

  6. If you don’t pray correctly, oh ye of little faith, then it doesn’t matter what you ask for and how frequently you ask it anyway.

  7. thanks allot, I’m blessed with this message. since it is plain that we should not begg but rather ask God, does it look normal begging fellow humans in different circumstances?

  8. Thank you for this article. Now know the difference between praying and begging. God bless you.

  9. Great article. I wish it were more broad though and wasn’t just about healing. Jesus said all things are possible to him who believes. It doesn’t just apply to health

    1. Of course it just doesn’t apply to health. The writer probably had this on his mind due to an event or circumstances in his personal life or something else and it created that tunnel vision subject. The writer made a point about Jesus’ healing miracles. A lot start and are written by Matthew’s witness. Continuously Jesus states “your faith has healed you”. Broaden your mind dear person. God’s will and abilities to do as he wills is limitless. Most Kingdom dwellers are aware of this ; and even if there is only one focus subject,- the writer is aware of God’s limitlessness.

  10. I was blessed to read the articles,I used to beg when I pray,but since begging is not the right thing to communicate God,I pray without begging anymore but seek His righteousness and His wellingness.
    Blessings..

    1. Author

      Dust – Sure, but it depends on what kind of faith you are talking about. You can believe in anything but ultimate faith requires an ultimate Being, someone Who can actually guarantee the future. Natural faith can take you only so far, for the heavy lifting you will need to hear from a living God. That is why the Bible says, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the (spoken) word of Christ.”

      Your faith will determine your eternal destiny. If you faith is in the world’s things or yourself, you better hope that they will be able to take care of you when the time comes. Or, hope that you will die and not exist after death. Otherwise, you will have to determine is which god is the real God and believe in Him. Believing is a huge responsibility. Everything rides on it.

      Both hope and faith can be natural or spiritual. My hope and my faith are based solely on the word of God, which tells me about the Person of God. Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. It takes both. The God of the universe is not simply the man upstairs, and all religions do not point to the same God. We love you man. Rex

  11. Thank you for this. It was a revelation. I ask the Lord for his powers to continually work in me to do His will and good pleasure so I will seek and ask Him rather than beg. I am richly blessed and continued to blessed by your scriptures and sermons.

  12. amen. i’m blessed….
    its funny how we think begging God shows humbleness but I thank God for this article because now i know that begging doesn’t move God but faith does

  13. Thank you so much for posting this. It ministered to me so much that I read it again aloud to my husband. He asked me how I knew that he was begging God. We boldly approach the throne as children and not as beggars at the table. Thank you again.
    I know God is richly blessing you.

  14. Great article. I find that an attitude of thanksgiving helps me stay on the right tract in prayer.

    1. I am 72 years old, faith has nothing to do with God answering prayer. Because it depends on if he wants to or not if in sin not in sin. Don’t say if God thinks it is good for or not. Remember Jesus takes our prayers for to God for. So praying wrong is not the question

  15. I just want to let you know how much your posts speak to me. This is not the first time God has answered my questions or given.me direction through them. I have been begging God the past week. Not praying but begging and what you wrote made me realize that. Thank you

    1. Author

      Stephanie – Wow, thank you. That speaks encouragement to me. Keep seeking Him and speaking His word out with courageous and reckless abandon. Persevere for He is faithful. God bless. Rex

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