There’s this crazy thing about God – He loves it when we ask Him for things!
“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” Matthew 7:11
Have you ever noticed how often Jesus mentioned the word “ask”?
Jesus tells us – that God loves to give good gifts – to whom? To those who ask! He said, “Ask and you shall receive…” There is something about “asking” that God likes. The Lord wants us to ask Him for good things! James tells us that “…we have not because we ask not….” Perhaps asking puts us in a place of dependence on the Lord, rather than being self-sufficient or presumptuous. When we ask God for something, it’s a humble acknowledgment that we are needy and He is our good and benevolent Father – willing to give us the things we desire.
Think about it, God is a good Father! He’s more generous than the very best human father we could think of. The Lord is not a withholder. He’s not stingy. Like any loving human father enjoys giving good things to his children, our Heavenly Father is that much more giving. In fact, the Bible tells us that God our Father is love and love gives. That means by His very nature, God is a loving giver.
Sadly, many people don’t know much about God’s love or willingness to answer our prayers generously. Even fewer seem to know how to cooperate with Him in faith, by asking. Some people feel guilty or selfish when they ask God for things. Don’t shrink back from asking. God wants us to ask for things according to His will, which is His Word. Listen to this amazing promise: “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of Him.” 1 John 5:14-15
Are you getting stirred up about asking God for the things on your heart?
Here are a few more verses to meditate on today, and then – just ask! ”If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.” James 1:5-8
“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.” John 15:7
“Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in My Name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:19-20
”In that day you will no longer ask Me anything. I tell you the truth, My Father will give you whatever you ask in My Name. Until now you have not asked for anything in My Name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” John 16:23-24
Get the idea? Go ahead – just ask!
Say This: “Father, I am going to spend some time in Your Word. I ask You to saturate my heart with Your Word and Your will. I have been negligent on ‘asking’ – so I am going to get busy ‘asking’ You for things! I believe You will be glorified and my joy will be complete! I thank You in advance for answering my ‘asking.’ In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
