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- Feel free to ask God any question you want, but keep in mind that some are usually more fruitful than others. And these five—“Who am I?,” “What if?,” “How long?,” “What can I offer?,” and “What must I do?”—are among the best.
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Feel free to ask God any question you want, but keep in mind that some are usually more fruitful than others. And these five—“Who am I?,” “What if?,” “How long?,” “What can I offer?,” and “What must I do?”—are among the best.
- “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9, NIV) You know, of course, that after Cain killed his brother Abel, God came calling and asking, “Where is your brother Abel?”
- “Why, Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1, NIV) The ancient songwriters and singers of the Bible often asked such questions.
- “How can a young person stay on the path of purity?” (Psalm 119:9, NIV) Young or old, this question remains relevant today. The psalmist answered it, “By living according to Your word.”
- “How long, Lord, must I call for help, but You do not listen?” (Habakkuk 1:2, NIV) Like the psalmists, the prophet Habakkuk was frustrated by God’s silence—he wasn’t the first, and he’s far from the last.
- Reasons For Asking Open-Ended Questions in Prayer
- Scriptural Examples of Asking God Open-Ended Questions
- How to Ask God Open-Ended Questions
- A Simple Place to Start
First, prayer is relational.
The number one reason to ask God open-ended questions in prayer is because prayer is supposed to be relational. It’s not supposed to be a one-way conversation where we talk to God instead of with God. Mother Teresa spoke to this point in her interview with Dan Rather, the former CBS anchorman (The Other Journal: Prayer, 2013, ix). She answered his question about her prayer life. The conversation went something like this:
Second, asking questions is humble.
The second major reason for asking God open-ended questions in prayer is because it expresses humility. Humble people know they don’t know everything, so they ask questions to learn! Proud people don’t want to appear foolish, so they don’t ask questions. Asking questions is also vulnerable, and humble people are secure enough in their identity to risk the vulnerability without worrying too much about themselves.
Third, God may reveal new ideas, insights, and possibilities.
One of the great benefits of asking open-ended questions, I’ve experienced, is getting answers from God! I don’t always hear him right or ask in the right way, but when I ask God questions, I generally find that he is willing to talk with me about my inquiries! He loves us, after all. Dallas Willard’s book Hearing God: Developing a Conversational Relationship with Godopened my eyes to this reality for what felt like the first time. Since then, I’ve known it’s possible and that others hear fro...
Example #1: Moses.
Perhaps my favorite example of someone in Scripture asking God an open-ended question is Moses in Exodus 33. Perhaps I like it because it’s so bold and relatable. The situation is that he is trying to lead a rebellious sort of people out of Egypt and into the Promised Land, and he’s having a hard time trusting God’s presence to be with them. He says to God, God answers him: In this passage, Moses asks God open-ended questions and Moses makes an open-ended request—“show me your glory”—both of...
Example #2: The Psalms and Job.
The Psalms were the Jewish prayer book; they served as Jesus’ prayer book, too. So, as disciples, we should make the Psalms a close companion in our prayer life, too. In the Psalms, we see open-ended questions scattered throughout the text, but I want to focus on just three: 1. Why?in Psalm 2:1: “Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain?” 2. How?in Psalm 13:1: “How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” 3. Who?in Psalm 15:1: “LORD,...
Example #3: King David.
David is fighting the Philistines, and he consults the Lord about a battle. At first, he asks a question of God expecting a yes or no response. And God gives him a yes answer (2 Sam. 5:17–19): Then, we see David ask a similar sort of question but in a different way. We don’t know exactly what he prayed because this is all we have: We don’t get David’s exact question here, but we know that whatever David asked, he made space after his question to hear from the Lord more than just yes or no. We...
1. Pray situationally with open-ended questions.
The simplest way to start this practice, if it’s new to you, is to do similar to what David did. Take a challenging situation in your life and ask God what to do. Simply tell God something like this: Then, just listen. Write down what you think God might be telling you as you listen. It’s important not to judge or filter too much at this point (if at all). Writing something down doesn’t mean it’s from God, but perhaps it is from God. This helps you track your prayers as you learn this habit....
2. Pray the Lord’s prayer using open-ended questions.
Another practical way to incorporate open-ended questions into your prayer life is to use the Lord’s Prayer from Matthew 6 (or Luke 11) as a wireframe for asking questions of God. This is where prayer gets really sweet. I don’t think Jesus intended us to simply say the words of the Lord’s Prayer (or as I like to call it “Our Prayer”) like a robot. It’s a launching pad, a starting point, a framework for how we’re supposed to pray every prayer. It helps us place all kinds of requests and inquir...
3. Pray the Psalms slowly so you can ask their open-ended questions—and your own.
Since the Psalms are God’s Great Prayer Book to use, we must pray the Psalmsusing their words like Jesus prayed them. As we pray them, ask questions of God when you come to the Psalmists questions. Feel free to add your own questions in the mix, as you digest what you’re praying using their words. Say: 1. God, I’m struggling to believe this today. How is it true? 2. God, how can you be good, if so much is bad in the world? 3. God, what are you saying to me in this Psalm that I need to hear to...
Perhaps the best open-ended question, one God’s heart is eager to answer, is simply this: “How can I love people today?” And even more, “How can I love youtoday?” These are beautiful questions because we know God wants to answer them in general, and also because they are obedience-based questions, which is God’s love language. So, if you’re not sur...
The Bible reveals that different types of prayer should be offered to different roles of the Godhead. A simple way to remember it is this way: all prayer that involves asking God for something is to be directed to the Father, in the name of Jesus, with the Holy Spirit.
- “What now?” Probably the most common question people pray is “Why?” Especially, “Why me?” I’ve prayed those myself, many times. But I’ve never received much of an answer to either one.
- “Why do I do that?” Sometimes I think God is just waiting for me to ask this question, like a loving parent hoping for a child to see the need for change and improvement in an unprofitable, even destructive, habit.
- “My God, my God, why have you NOT forsaken me?” Both David and Jesus, of course, prayed one of the most famous “question prayers”: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
- “What do you want me to pray?” It has taken me a long time, but I have learned to pray this question often, usually before I pray anything else. It places me in a listening posture, and I am often surprised at the ways it is answered.
Jun 1, 2017 · What if you knew what questions to ask God? Would you be willing to ask Him these life-transforming questions? I’ll share with you 10 questions to ask God that will give you the answers God wants you to know today.
Feb 10, 2019 · For all those who want to hear God speak to them, I have good news. It’s actually really simple. In my experience, there’s a major key that unlocks the door to hearing His voice. Ask Him questions. Asking Him specific questions helps narrow your focus and puts you in a posture of listening.
