Many of us ask this question … “Why do we have to ask God?  Why can’t He just do great and mighty things toward us?”

Perspective … perspective!  People see things differently!  One may see a glass half full or half empty!  Seeing things through the lens of love makes a difference.  We aren’t created to be robots.  We are created to have a love relationship with our Heavenly Father in Christ.

To ask is an expression of relationship.  When we ask, it will move us to incline our ears to listen, to open our eyes, watch, see and be attentive to a response.  Asking requires an answer but how many of us ask God and do not expect for an answer?  This mediocrity has woven into our lifestyle and we end up finding ourselves saying “whatever will be, will be”.   Why ask then?

His Word says …

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”  Matthew 7:7-8

For every action, there is always an expectation of a response.  Relationship is two-way otherwise it would no longer be called relationship.  It is a way in which two or more concepts, objects, or people are connected, or the state of being connected.   It is identical to association, link, correlation, alliance, bond, interrelation and interconnection.  It is to bring together or into contact so that A REAL LINK IS ESTABLISHED.

 “Yes, I AM the vine; you are the branches. Those who REMAIN in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.  Anyone who does not remain in Me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.  But IF YOU REMAIN IN ME and MY WORDS REMAIN IN YOU, YOU MAY ASK FOR ANYTHING YOU WANT, and IT WILL BE GRANTED!  When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.”  John 15:5-8 NLT

This speaks of connectivity.  He desires us to REMAIN and STAY connected to Him.  It is in our love relationship with Him where His desires become ours.  He is the Vine and we are the branches, what the Vine has, the branches have.  The fruits that are produced through the branches are of the Vine.  Remember that a mango tree produces mango fruits through its branches.  No matter how you kneel and pray, when you plant a mango tree, it will never produce an apple fruit.  When His desires become ours, then what we ask now becomes according to His will, then SURELY it will be given!

When Jesus boldly said you may ask FOR ANYTHING you want, He just gave you and I a BLANK CHECK!  But, don’t just quote that part of the verse without considering the words before that which says …”IF you REMAIN in Me and My Words REMAIN in you”.  Always keep in mind that He KNOWS what is BEST for us.  If we remain, we gain, for He will reveal to us the things that He has freely given us.

Just as your desires for your own children are what you think are best for them that when they ask for “anything”

I don’t think you will give them “anything”.  BUT if they ask you whatever you have desired for them to have, then, without a blink of an eye, you will give it to them.

God’s love is protective and His will is utterly for our utmost benefit.  As we grow in the knowledge and wisdom in His Word revealed to us by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, our desires change and this positions us to see more of what we ask for … GRANTED!

“Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This isn’t a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we’re in. If your child asks for bread, do you trick him with sawdust? If he asks for fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? As bad as you are, you wouldn’t think of such a thing.  You’re at least decent to your own children. So don’t you think the God WHO CONCEIVED YOU IN LOVE will be even better?”  Matthew 7:7-8 MSG

God’s giving is intimately and inseparably connected with our asking.  At times when we ask He just doesn’t give us the answer when we desperately need it.  He  doesn’t hide it FROM US but He hides it FOR US because  He knows when the perfect time is for it to manifest.  He knows when we’re ready for it.  He waits because He is all committed to our good and all we need to do is TRUST Him.  Trust Him in His goodness.  Trust Him in His faithfulness.  Trust Him in His love.  Trust Him that SURELY HE KNOWS BEST!  After all, He is God and we are not.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.”  Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV

 

Photo Credits:  Edna Estrada Arriola