Matthew 7:7-12

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

If your three year old child asked for a loaded gun would you give it to them? Would you give your thirteen year old daughter one million dollars? How about your sixteen year old son a lamborghini Diablo? God wants to give us good gifts but like children we desire foolish things. First and foremost God is interested in your salvation. If something you ask for will prevent your spiritual growth or negatively impact someone else's salvation God will not give it to you.

So when you pray consider what you are asking for. Is it actually what God wills for your life? If you do not know for sure that is OK ask anyway. Just be open to the fact that He won't give you something if it is not good in the eyes of eternity. This is difficult to accept because you may have to go through hard times to have the spiritual growth that you ultimately need.