You Can Ask God For Anything You Want When Having Faith

Christ indicated several times that a person can ask God for whatever he wants - not just for certain things:

Mark 11

24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

John 11

22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask."

Some suggest that Christ actually meant that a person can only come to God with righteous requests. What they mean by this is that a person can only ask God for things in line with the law of Moses. In other words, a person can only ask God for things outlined in the law of Moses, such as that God blesses his neighbors; but he really cannot just ask God for anything he wants, such as obtaining a new yacht.

Please note the scriptures below:

Romans 3

28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.

Ephesians 2

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

Romans 3:28 indicates that the law of Moses does not come into the equation when having faith, and receiving justification from it. Therefore a person is not required to ask God for things consistent with things outlined in the law. This means that a person can in fact ask God for anything he wants - just like what Christ said. Further, Ephesians 2:8-9 indicates that a person is saved through faith and not by any work of righteousness, lest he becomes able to boast. Now if a person was obligated to ask God for things in line with the law of Moses (or some other set of rules of righteousness), he would be able to boast of making righteous requests under his own strength - rather than as a result of his faith (which shows up naturally in his actions). Therefore we see that it is misleading to say that a person is constrained in what he can ask God for, when he has faith.

It is important to realize that the act or practice of asking God for things, and believing that you will receive them (i.e. having faith - Mark 11:22-24) is it self a righteous act, since this can only be produced by the Holy Spirit.

2 Corinthians 4

13 It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken."With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak,
14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence.

In other words, it is impossible for a person to ask God for anything he wants at all (while believing he will receive it), without the Holy Spirit producing this action in him. Therefore it is impossible for someone to have faith in an unrighteous manner - if he does so consistent with Christ's instructions on how it should be done.

Do not let anyone suggest to you that you must do anything under the law of Moses - including having faith. You can in fact ask God for anything at all that you want (while believing that you will receive it), and you should constantly do so, since this is what produces righteousness in you, and the more you do so, the more righteous you will become.