Ask!

 "That night the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, 'What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!" I Kings 3:5

Birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, and other special occasions are particularly stressful in my little world. It doesn't matter how much time I spend thinking about what to do when these events are nearing, I always end up in the same place, a state of confusion. I don't ever get it right. Several years ago, I decided to start asking. What do you want? What would you like to do? Where would you like to go? Who do you want to see? Chirp, chirp, nothing but crickets. I beg. I plead, but still no help. O well, there's always next year.

In the Bible, asking is an ongoing theme. God routinely asked people questions as well as asked them to do something. Amazingly, he invites people to ask him questions too. And, as in the story for today involving Solomon, to ask him for something and/or for him to do something. He appeared to Solomon in a dream and asked him what he wanted. What?! Basically, Solomon had carte blanche to ask God for ANYTHING! He chose ... (drum roll please!) ... wisdom. And guess what, God gave it to him along with many other blessings. 
 
Jesus told us to never stop asking, seeking, and knocking. So, why do we stop? James, Jesus' brother, affirmed that wisdom is a wonderful thing to ask God to provide. He even promises that it will be given when asked in faith. That's fantastic news! So, why don't we ask for it? James also tells us that we have not because we ask not. How crazy is that!? We miss out on divine intervention only because we don't ask!? Why!? Why don't we ask? Let's make it more personal. Why don't YOU ask? Why don't I ask? The provision of God is on the other side of the ask.    


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tested

"He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do." John 6:1-13 Test day. I remember all too well the feelings of discomfort connected to that expression from my school days. I was so thankful the last time I had to take one. Tests felt so much like a cruel game of, "Guess What I'm Thinking?" with the author of the test. During one particularly grueling test, I noticed one of my classmates cheating like there was no tomorrow. Predictably, he aced it and I let's just say, didn't. It occurred to me later that I was actually being tested in two different ways that day. By God's grace alone, I passed them both. Philip was in the hot seat that day. Jesus, out of the twelve disciples, decided to single him out for testing. From all appearances, there was a massive resource shortage. Five thousand men plus women and children all hungry up against whatever money Judas had in the money bag. Philip was apparently incredulous as he emphaticall
Read more

Nothing Left

"'What do you mean what's the matter?' Micah replied. 'You've taken away all the gods I have made, and my priest, and I have nothing left!" Judges 17, 18 Unaware of some purchases that my wife had made earlier in the day, I didn't even hesitate to use my debit card at the checkout line. However, our bank was fully aware of all those purchases as well as the one I was attempting to make at the present moment. Clearly, the math didn't add up. Something from nothing is something less than nothing and that, as it turns, is frowned upon by our aforementioned bank. In short, the bank told the merchant there was nothing left and the merchant told me, "Declined." Micah was one panicked individual. His personal little self-directed and self-centered religion was coming apart at the seams. He had idols. He had priests. He had a shrine and even a sacred ephod (a priestly garment). All this, he thought, secured the LORD's blessing. When the warri
Read more

Who is Jesus?

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:15, 16 NIV) What are your thoughts about Jesus? Every major religion on earth has an opinion on who he was. Mostly they say that he was a good man, a powerful teacher, and a peacemaker. All of that is true. But what about him being the Son of God? Peter, after being with Jesus non-stop for 4 years was confident of his identity. He was assured that Jesus was God in the flesh, the Messiah that was to come. You essentially have three options when it comes to what you believe about Jesus: 1) He was a Liar 2) He was a Lunatic (out of his mind) 3) Or that He was Lord If he was, and is, Lord, then he deserves our worship and our entire lives. If Jesus is Lord, it is true that we have access to God by His sacrifice on the cross. Join us Friday night at 7, as we reflect on Jesus going to the cross for the sins of the entire world (Good Frida
Read more