Because He promised

"Jesus answered (the Samaritan woman at the well), ‘If you knew the gift of God and who it is who is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water’ – John 4:10 (NIV)… "by this he meant the Spirit, whom those believe in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given since Jesus had not been glorified" John 7:38-39 (NIV).

We pray because of who Jesus is: He is the risen Lord.

And we ask because he promised.

We can have confidence in prayer because we ask God not based on who we are, or because we think we are good enough, but simply because we are asking God to do what he has already promised to do.

"If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever – the Spirit of truth … I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you" John 14:15-18 (NIV)

"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 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 the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Luke 11:11-13 (NIV)

"So that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit" Galatians 3:14 (NIV)

"And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his son into our hearts, crying ‘Abba Father'" Galatians 4:6 (NIV)

So, as we seek God and pray not only for ourselves but for many to be filled with the Spirit, we are simply asking the Lord to do the very thing he promised he would do.

Let us follow the way of love and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy (1 Corinthians 14:1).