What does the Bible say about ask and you shall receive?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible encourages believers to ask God confidently in prayer, trusting that He hears and answers according to His wise, loving will. Jesus invites His disciples to ask, seek, and knock, promising the Father's good gifts in Matthew 7:7-11, and calls them to pray in faith in Mark 11:24 and Matthew 21:22. Yet prayer is not a means of controlling God: James 4:3 warns against selfish motives, while John 15:7 and John 14:13-14 connect answered prayer with abiding in Christ and seeking His glory. Philippians 4:6-8 directs anxious hearts to bring every request with thanksgiving, receiving God's peace as He works.
Top passages, ranked by readers
Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- Mark 11:24
Therefore I tell you, all things whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them.
- Matthew 7:7
"Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you.
- James 4:3
You ask, and don't receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it for your pleasures.
- Matthew 21:22
All things, whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."
- Matthew 7:7-11
[7] "Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you. [8] For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened. [9] Or who is there among you, who, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? [10] Or if he asks for a fish, who will give him a serpent? [11] If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
- John 15:7
If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you.
- John 14:13-14
[13] Whatever you will ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. [14] If you will ask anything in my name, I will do it.
- John 16:24
Until now, you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full.
- Philippians 4:6-8
[6] In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. [7] And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. [8] Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think about these things.
- Psalms 37:4
Also delight yourself in Yahweh, And he will give you the desires of your heart.
Related topics
Go deeper
Ask Explain Bible AI about ask and you shall receive and get a fuller answer from a Reformed theological perspective.
Ask what the Bible says about ask and you shall receive