Asking
Whether we like it or not, asking is the rule of the kingdom.
-C.H. Spurgeon
Ye have not, because ye ask not.
James 4:2
When I was in school we were taught that we must raise our hands if we wanted to ask the teacher a question.
Sometimes the teacher would ignore us. Sometimes the teacher would give us permission to speak right away and other times we felt like our arms might fall off because we had to wait so long to be called upon so we propped it up at the elbow with our other hand!
I am so thankful that I don't have to raise my hand before I ask God for something or talk to him about something.
Yes sometimes I raise my hand to him but it is only to praise him for what a wonderful Heavenly Father he is! It is not to get permission to speak to him or ask him a question!
Many people I know will not talk to God for various reason such as unbelief, anger towards God, pride with a side of "I don't need God I've got this all figured out", and some may not speak to him just because they don't know they can.
I admit my "asking" was pretty much naught until October 1996! I finally decided to ask God for something. And I did not raise my hand, I bowed my head and my heart instead.
I was in a place of distress in my life and had no where to turn to so thankfully I finally turned to God.
I said this simple prayer:
Dear God,
I can't do this anymore! Please give me peace and give me strength.
In Jesus name amen
That night I sat on the edge of my bed with my head and heart bowed not knowing that the prayer I prayed would change my life forever!
I slept the most peaceful sleep I had in a very long time. I woke up refreshed and renewed! I stepped outside my front door the next morning and felt like someone was holding my head up. I looked up and saw the blue sky for the first time ever or so it seemed! My ears heard the beautiful sound of birds singing in the air! I had eyes to see and ears to hear! Finally! I asked!
I suddenly had a great desire to go to church and read my Bible and I have never stopped asking since I prayed that one little prayer that changed my life!
Things started to get better in my life and God gave me a reassurance that no matter what happened that he was with me and that everything was going to be okay!
He gave me the peace and the strength that I asked for and he is still giving it to me today just because I asked.
Last night I went shopping at Walmart and I had a heaping cart full of groceries! The cashier that checked me out commented that she hoped I had some help with unloading and putting away the groceries when I got home and I simply said, "Yes I do! The Lord!"
The lady behind me said, "wow you are going to be working him overtime tonight" and the cashier said, "yes but he can't actually lift them and put them away for you!" My response was simply, "No, but I will ask him to give me strength to do it and he WILL!"
Honestly the look on her face was priceless and I saw a peace come over her! It was as if the Lord had ministered to her just through those words! It was as though she had a revelation that she too could ask!
I could have whined and complained about the task before me but I chose to ask for help and I got it!
God hears and answers prayers! Are you asking?
This is and may always be my favorite scripture in the Bible:
Psalm 116:1-2
I love the Lord because he hears and answers my prayers. Because he bends down and listens I will pray as long as I have breath!
What if today is the day that you ask God for something and he changes your life forever? You will never know unless you ask!
Matthew 7:7
Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened.
One night alone in prayer might make us new men, changed from poverty of soul to spiritual wealth, from trembling to triumphing.-C.H. Spurgeon
Father in heaven,
I am so thankful for that night in October of 1996 when just one prayer to you changed my life! Thank you for hearing and answering that prayer! Thank you for giving me peace and strength and for giving me eyes to see and ears to hear!
I love you Father and I thank you for bending down and helping me from a place of distress to a place of rest!
Father I pray for those who don't ask! I pray that for some reason they will just turn to you and ask you to help them with whatever their needs are and I ask you Father to touch their hearts in a special way just as you did mine!
I pray for those that used to ask but for some reason stopped asking! Father touch their hearts in a special way and soften them to asking you once again for the help they need!
Father move every heart to ask you! And Father change their lives forever through their asking!
In Jesus name amen
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