--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ask God for what you want, but you cannot…" description: "\"Ask God for what you want, but you cannot ask if you are not asking for a right thing. When you draw near to God, you cease from asking for things.\"You..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fd/oswald-chambers-205_asking_ask-god-for-what-you-want-but-you-cannot_2979418.jpg" --- # Ask God for what you want, but you cannot ask if you are… ![“Ask God for what you want, but you cannot ask if you are not asking for a right thing. When you draw near to God, you cease from asking for things."Your Father knows what things you have need of, before you ask him." Then, why ask? That you may get to know Him.” quote by Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fd/oswald-chambers-205_asking_ask-god-for-what-you-want-but-you-cannot_2979418.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fd/oswald-chambers-205_asking_ask-god-for-what-you-want-but-you-cannot_2979418.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fd/oswald-chambers-205_asking_ask-god-for-what-you-want-but-you-cannot_2979418.jpg) > “Ask God for what you want, but you cannot ask if you are not asking for a right thing. When you draw near to God, you cease from asking for things."Your Father knows what things you have need of, before you ask him." Then, why ask? That you may get to know Him.” [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. One should pray for righteous desires, trusting God knows needs before asking, suggesting that seeking divine alignment precedes request. **In simple terms:** Ask God rightly, He knows before you ask. Key Takeaway Align desires with higher purpose before praying. Themes faith righteousness trust Mood reflective solemn Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - personal prayer - church life - counseling Key Concepts theology spirituality ethics Questions to Reflect On - What does “right thing” mean to you? - How can you discern divine will? A Different Perspective Misinterpretation of “right” can cause doubt. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asking/) [Asking Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asking-right-246351/) [Asking Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asking-things-938989/) [Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) [Cease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cease/) [Draws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/draws/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [God Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-want/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Need Ask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-ask-471346/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Right thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-thing/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Ask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-ask/) [What you want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/what-you-want/) ## Related quotes > [I must learn that the purpose of my life belongs to God, not me. God is using me from His great personal perspective, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/i-must-learn-that-the-purpose-of-my-life-belongs-to-god-not-me-god-is/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [In a way, I think religion is to be admired for asking the right questions. I just think it's got the wrong answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/in-a-way-i-think-religion-is-to-be-admired-for-asking-the-right/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Effective management always means asking the right question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-heller/effective-management-always-means-asking-the-right-question/) [Robert Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-heller/) > [“And it was the first time that I believed the claim that you can help a person more by asking them the right question…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-hempel/and-it-was-the-first-time-that-i-believed-the-claim-that-you-can-help/) [Amy Hempel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-hempel/) > [Asking the right questions is as important as answering them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benoit-mandelbrot/asking-the-right-questions-is-as-important-as-answering-them/) [Benoit Mandelbrot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benoit-mandelbrot/) > [Philosophy may be defined as the art of asking the right question...awareness of the problem outlives all solutions. The answers are questions in disguise,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/philosophy-may-be-defined-as-the-art-of-asking-the-right-question/) [Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/) > [ “\[Whenever we wonder\] 'What should I do', instead of asking ourselves what's right or wrong, we must ask ourselves: \[...\] What is the truest,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glennon-doyle/whenever-we-wonder-what-should-i-do-instead-of-asking-ourselves-what/) [Glennon Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glennon-doyle/) > [Half of science is asking the right questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bacon/half-of-science-is-asking-the-right-questions/) [Roger Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bacon/) > [Asking the right questions takes as much skill as giving the right answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-half/asking-the-right-questions-takes-as-much-skill-as-giving-the-right/) [Robert Half](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-half/) > [When it comes to spiritual truth, how can we know that we are on the right path? One way is by asking the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/when-it-comes-to-spiritual-truth-how-can-we-know-that-we-are-on-the/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [I cannot expect even my own art to provide all of the answers, only to hope it keeps asking the right questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-hartigan/i-cannot-expect-even-my-own-art-to-provide-all-of-the-answers-only-to/) [Grace Hartigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-hartigan/) > [a good part of the trick to being a first-rate scientist is in asking the right questions or asking them in ways that make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-roe/a-good-part-of-the-trick-to-being-a-first-rate-scientist-is-in-asking/) [Anne Roe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-roe/) > [“When you look for answers, you find them. I hope that you're asking the right questions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitta-xinindlu/when-you-look-for-answers-you-find-them-i-hope-that-you-re-asking-the/) [Mitta Xinindlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitta-xinindlu/) > [“I was wondering why I wasn't getting the right answers. It was then I realized that I wasn't asking the right people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mansi-soni/i-was-wondering-why-i-wasn-t-getting-the-right-answers-it-was-then-i/) [Mansi Soni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mansi-soni/) > [One way to solve a mystery is by asking the right questions until answers start to emerge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stelter/one-way-to-solve-a-mystery-is-by-asking-the-right-questions-until/) [Brian Stelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stelter/) ## More by Oswald Chambers > [“If we deliberately choose to obey God, then He will tax the remotest star and the last grain of sand to assist us with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/if-we-deliberately-choose-to-obey-god-then-he-will-tax-the-remotest/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [Realize that the Lord is here now, and the freedom you receive is immediate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/realize-that-the-lord-is-here-now-and-the-freedom-you-receive-is/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [You will never cease to be the most amazed person on earth at what God has done for you on the inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/you-will-never-cease-to-be-the-most-amazed-person-on-earth-at-what/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [When Jesus Christ shed his blood on the cross, it was not the blood of a martyr; or the blood of one man for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/when-jesus-christ-shed-his-blood-on-the-cross-it-was-not-the-blood-of/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [Sorrow burns up a great amount of shallowness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/sorrow-burns-up-a-great-amount-of-shallowness/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“Let circumstances take you where they will, but keep drawing on the grace of God in whatever condition you may find yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/let-circumstances-take-you-where-they-will-but-keep-drawing-on-the/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [The goal of faithfulness is not that we will do work for God, but that He will be free to do His work through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-goal-of-faithfulness-is-not-that-we-will-do-work-for-god-but-that/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [We are in danger of forgetting that we cannot do what God does, and that God will not do what we can do. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/we-are-in-danger-of-forgetting-that-we-cannot-do-what-god-does-and/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“It is a solemn thing, and no small scandal in the Kingdom, to see God's children starving while actually seated at the Father's table.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/it-is-a-solemn-thing-and-no-small-scandal-in-the-kingdom-to-see-god-s/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“If my holiness is not drawing towards Him, it is not holiness of the right order, but an influence that will awaken inordinate affection…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/if-my-holiness-is-not-drawing-towards-him-it-is-not-holiness-of-the/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“My spiritual history must have as its underlying foundation a personal knowledge of Jesus Christ. To be born again means that I see Jesus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/my-spiritual-history-must-have-as-its-underlying-foundation-a/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [We always have visions, before a thing is made real. When we realize that although the vision is real, it is not real in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/we-always-have-visions-before-a-thing-is-made-real-when-we-realize/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [The lasting value of our public service for God is measured by the depth of the intimacy of our private times of fellowship and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-lasting-value-of-our-public-service-for-god-is-measured-by-the/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [The thing that awakens the deepest fountain of gratitude in a human being is that God has forgiven his sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-thing-that-awakens-the-deepest-fountain-of-gratitude-in-a-human/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [The secret of the missionary is...I am His, and He is carrying out His work through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-secret-of-the-missionary-is-i-am-his-and-he-is-carrying-out-his/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) [Explore all 922 Oswald Chambers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) ## More Asking quotes > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [And in your new lives you'll have to live entirely for that one sensation-that of imminent truth. And you're going to have to holler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/and-in-your-new-lives-you-ll-have-to-live-entirely-for-that-one/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [“Stop asking yourself how or why and tell yourself you can." - Charmainism”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charmaine-smith-ladd/stop-asking-yourself-how-or-why-and-tell-yourself-you-can-charmainism/) [Charmaine Smith Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charmaine-smith-ladd/) > [Closing his eyes, he sent up a prayer to anyone who was listening, asking please, for God's sake, stop sending him signals that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/closing-his-eyes-he-sent-up-a-prayer-to-anyone-who-was-listening/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [People will identify with a persecuted minority without asking themselves what they are identifying with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/people-will-identify-with-a-persecuted-minority-without-asking/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [If you're having a bad day already and everybody is just asking you petty questions, it drives people to the edge, or something really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-weixler/if-you-re-having-a-bad-day-already-and-everybody-is-just-asking-you/) [Jess Weixler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-weixler/) > [You never give away your heart; you lend it from time to time. If it were not so, how could we take it back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/you-never-give-away-your-heart-you-lend-it-from-time-to-time-if-it/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [I'm not asking people to feel sorry for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/i-m-not-asking-people-to-feel-sorry-for-me/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) > [The boldness of asking deep questions may require unforeseen flexibility if we are to accept the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-boldness-of-asking-deep-questions-may-require-unforeseen/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [Use Google Before Asking A Stupid Question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muskaan/use-google-before-asking-a-stupid-question/) [Muskaan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muskaan/) > [There were people asking 'Can women be funny?' People still ask that. It's like asking: 'Can women breathe in and out?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-walters/there-were-people-asking-can-women-be-funny-people-still-ask-that-it/) [Julie Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-walters/) > [Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/whether-that-s-speaking-up-in-your-job-or-asking-for-a-promotion-or/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [Love cannot be had for the asking; it comes only as a gift from the heart of another](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/love-cannot-be-had-for-the-asking-it-comes-only-as-a-gift-from-the/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [The Baseball Hall of Fame is something every player dreams about, but being a member of God's Hall of Fame is the greatest achievement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/the-baseball-hall-of-fame-is-something-every-player-dreams-about-but/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [“In such a regime, I say you died a good death if your life had inspired someone to come forward and shoot your murdered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/in-such-a-regime-i-say-you-died-a-good-death-if-your-life-had/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) [Browse all 3,313 Asking quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asking/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Ask God for what you want, but you cannot ask if you are not asking for a right thing. 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