Ask and It Shall Be Given...

Scripture:

1 John 5:14-15 (NASB)

This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.

Devotional:

As a parent I want to give my children everything I can possibly give them.  If they ask for something it is my desire to give it to them.  Unless, and yes there is a but in this, it is not for their own good.  If what they ask for is not good for them or is dangerous the answer is a no.  However, if what they ask for is in line with what we want for them the answer is always a yes, as long as it is in our power to give.  There are times when we say no because something better is coming along and we know it.  For example we are in the store and the kids want a candy bar.  It is in the middle of the afternoon and there is no good reason not to let them have one.  However, we know as a surprise we are going to stop somewhere for ice-cream or something special.  So we say no to the candy bar only to give them something better later on.

How much greater and loving is God toward us?  He wants to bless us and give us anything and everything.  However, He knows some things are bad for us.  He also knows something better is on its way.  If we get what we ask for now we will miss out on something better.  Although asking God for something isn’t like asking a genie.  We cannot rub a lamp and have our every wish granted.  In the Disney move Aladdin there were provisions to the wish.  God has provisions to giving what we ask for.  We must ask within the scope of His will.  We can rest assured that whatever we ask for that is within His will He will grant us.  Asking for a million dollars for ourselves will probably not be answered.  Asking for a million dollars for God’s work just might be granted. 

What have you asked for lately that you haven’t seen the results to?  What have you asked for that was answered in a way you didn’t expect?  What have you asked for that was answered with a no only to have something better come along?  Last question for you…  Are you seeking to be one-hundred percent in God’s will?  That is the key to having every prayer answered with a ‘yes.’