So, tonight I was talking with a great friend and brother in the Lord about how one of "God's Ways" (as opposed to "Man's Ways") is to JUST ASK HIM for what we need.
Just ask him. Hmmmm... Just ask? Why is that so hard for us to wrap our arms around? I have to admit, there have been some serious times that I've gone to God in crisis and asked, and yes... He did deliver. But what about the times I asked and He didn't? Or what about all the times that I knew He knew what I needed, but He didn't take care of it? What's with that?
Well, first of all, let me just say that God's Way is to ASK.
"Ask and it will be given to you...
For everyone who asks receives..."
Matthew 7:7,8
So if you don't ask... there's a really good chance that you won't receive. And just because we THINK ABOUT IT, and we know that God knows what we're thinking about... we shouldn't assume that He'll jump in and do something. That's not His way. That's man's way. His way is that He responds when we ask.
So what about the times I asked for things and God didn't seem to answer?
This Red Shoe Project, as you well know, has got me focusing my attention on "God with me". The RED SHOES are there to remind ME that God is there... or, well, HERE, with me, NOW and ALWAYS... every moment of every day. So with that, I've been making a greater effort to spend time with Him... walking and talking with Him... praising Him... reading His Word.
Two weeks of this has got me to thinking... What was I doing for the last 30 years? If I wasn't focusing on Him, like I am now, just what was I focusing on? And when it came to asking... was I like one of those so-called friends that only comes around when they need something from you?
Have you ever had a "friend" that only talks to you when they want you to do something for them? Or worse... have you ever been one of those friends that talks to someone only when you want something from them? (Ouch!) What about with God? Do you only go to Him when you need something?(Yikes!) That's just something to ponder!
It takes TIME for a Relationship to develop into a powerful Friendship. Time invested TOGETHER.... Communicating, Listening, Sharing, Laughing, Crying, Dancing... Going through the great times as well as the difficult times. It's about being there for one another over and over again... consistently and faithfully. It's two-sided. That means both parties give and receive. It can't be all one way, ya know?
When there is a relationship... a loving relationship, each party is more than happy to go above and beyond to help the other with what they need.
A RELATIONSHIP IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT TO THE ASKING.
I know that we could say a lot more about this verse... but let's just stop there for today. Let's take a "Selah" and Stop and Ponder that for a while.
Share with me your thoughts,
Gail
