Ask

Did you ask for anything this Christmas season? Did you get it? Did your kids or grand kids ask for anything? Chances are they did. Did you as a parent or grandparent do your best to try to fulfill their request. Chances are you did.

I thought this was an opportune time to mention that God our heavenly Father has also told us to ask for the things we want.

Matthew 7:7-11

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Allow me to confess here. There are many times I am guilty of not asking because I feel God has already been so overwhelmingly good to me and I have the tendency to think that He already knows what I am in need of why do I need to ask. But that is contrary to what the Bible says we should do so I have to remind myself to ask and to seek forgiveness for not asking. We think, from hearing them talk sometime and because we think we "know" them, but don't we like to here them verbalize it and actually ask for it? God is the same way. He wants us to ask and in fact he tells us:

James 4:2

Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

That is pretty powerful. In other words we can work and slave to obtain what we want but we don't have because without God's blessings on our efforts we can work ourselves to death and still not obtain. We we would simply ask He is more than willing to give.

However!

We must be careful for what we ask. The very next verse says.

James 4:3

Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

There are 2 examples, one good and one not good, in the Old Testament that illustrates this principal. The Israelites were not pleased with God's provisions and ask for meat when God had provided manna. God granted them their wish because they ask. But...

Psalms 106:15

And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.

Not only were they not satisfied with His provisions but they simply were wanting to satisfy their physical cravings.

The other example worth noting is when God asked Solomon what he wanted and Solomon asked for wisdom that he may judge God's people rightly. And God's reply was:

1 Kings 3:10-13

And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.

What a contrast in stories. Do you ask? That is important. What do you ask for? That is equally important. Make it a habit to ask for things that will benefit others and not yourself and God will take care of you. He is a good and gracious God.