Ask: November 2, 2011

NOVEMBER 2 2011. TODAYS WORD FOR WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2011

ASK

DEFINITION:

Put a question to; interrogate; seek to obtain; request; invite; inquire about.

SCRIPTURE:

“And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” Matthew 21:22

“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened” Luke 11:9-10.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

In the verse above (Luke 11:9) we are taught to ask and seek. In the next verse (10) we are told that everyone who asks receives. Why does God want us to ask when He already knows what we want and what we need? He wants us to ask and seek Him so that we will recognize that He is the one who provides for us and that He alone hears and answers our prayers.

Many people just do not want to ask someone, let alone God, for anything because of pride. We should not let pride keep us from seeking God’s help. Remember, Jesus says: “ask and it will be given you; seek and you will find.”

In our consulting responsibilities with Christian ministries these past years we trained people how to “ASK” for help in supporting their ministries. Christian ministries are dependent on others to give of their time and money. Some people often complain that they receive too many requests for donations. In some cases this happens but for the most part ministries are sensitive to the feelings of their donors. Ministries are raised up by God to meet needs of people that are not being met by others. In order to exist, they must ask and asking for a legitimate need is honored by God. In fact, as the scripture says, we need to ask if we want a response. How is someone to know your need if you do not ask.

There are many situations in life where we need to ask for help. Families need to be willing to help others in their time of need if God has blessed them. And families need to be willing to ask in their time of need. Remember there is a difference between asking and demanding. When asking for help the response you receive is affected by the way you ask. When you ask favors of people or when you just ask questions for informational purposes, learn to ask kindly and thoughtfully.

Today one of the most important lessons we can learn from the scripture is that God expects us to ask Him for help when we are in need so He can fulfill His plan through our life.

There is no request so big or so small that we cannot bring it to God. The Lord wants us to pray about everything. Paul assures us of this in Philippians 4:6 when he says: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Jesus own words to us are, “Whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” Matthew 21:22. Can it be said any clearer? In James 1:5 and 6, we are told that if we lack wisdom let us ask of God. Then it says we are to ask in faith with no doubting.

Our problem today is that we limit God in what He will do for us. We rely on our own wisdom and so often fail. When we ask in prayer, ask believing and ask in faith with NO DOUBTING, then we will receive according to God’s perfect will.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in II Timothy 2:15.

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

PRAYER:

Open my eyes today to the reality that all I have to do is ask. You desire to meet all my needs. Help me to ask not only for the large issues I may face but for the small ones as well. Give me wisdom in all that I do. May I proceed today by faith that only You can give me.