One day, as I was hanging out and talking with some friends before class started, the conversation found its way to a pretty creepy picture, and I happened to see it. Now, it wasn’t extremely creepy, and I’m not prone to nightmares, but that night as I was lying in bed trying to go to sleep, I just couldn’t shake it from my mind. I really didn’t want something like that to disturb my rest, especially not that night, because I had a full day scheduled for the morning.
And so I asked God. I prayed that all things creepy and sinister would be cleared from my mind, and, because I thought it would be nice, I asked to have great dreams about being with friends.
The next day, I had forgotten about the whole thing, but then something triggered the memory of the dreams I had had. They were great - some of the best dreams I’ve had! And I realized how God had answered when I asked Him for help!
God wants us to ask Him, whether it’s a question, or a request, or something else, and He responds!
We all want something, whether physical, temporary, mental, permanent, spiritual, whatever. But sometimes, even often, we think our request or question is too small, or seems greedy, or, here’s the big one, not worthy of His attention. Is God okay with it when we ask?
Yes! In fact, He tells us to do so! Here are a few scriptures in which God asks us to ask Him: (NLT)
“That night God appeared to Solomon and said, ‘What do you want? Ask and I will give it to you!’”
2 Chronicles 1:7
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you.”
Matthew 7:7
“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.”
James 1:5
The bible is also clear about the fact that He hears us when we ask:
“And we are confident that He hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases Him. And since we know He hears us when we make our requests, we also know that He will give us what we ask for.”
1 John 5:14-15
Jesus also talks about how to ask, and about how God will respond:
“... I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and He will grant your request because you use my name. … Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.”
John 16:23b-24
“God said to Solomon, ‘Because your greatest desire is to help your people, and you did not ask for wealth, riches, fame, or even the death of your enemies or a long life, but rather you asked for wisdom and knowledge to properly govern my people - I will certainly give you the wisdom and knowledge you requested. But I will also give you wealth, riches, and fame such as no other king has had before you or will ever have in the future!’”
2 Chronicles 1:11-12
He wants us to ask for His help. He wants to provide for us. He wants to talk with us.
So are you going to ask God? Are there areas in your life where you haven’t been asking because you don’t think it’s worth it. It’s worth it! When I asked God for great dreams, that wasn’t something overly important, it wasn’t something that would seriously affect my life. And yet, He gave what I asked for!
My challenge for you today (right now!) is to find whatever it is you’ve been putting off asking God about, and to ask Him. He wants you to ask, and He wants to respond!
~Ransom Wandro
Comments