Life Plan Devotion #107 [Ask!]

Hi, Everyone.
I trust you had a great weekend and are ready for a terrific week. Let's get out there and do what needs to be done! Oh, and if you need help, just ask.

Life Plan Devotion #107 [Ask!]

Matthew 7:7 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you" (NIV).

     If you want to receive from God, you must ask Him. The Greek word for "ask" in Matthew 7:7 is aitĕō, which means "to ask, beg, call for, crave, desire, require." It is interesting to notice the varying degrees of intensity implied in that list. If you think about it, each word fits nicely within the list of words in defining the Greek word for "need" from Philippians 4:19 (see LPD #104).
     The Greek word for "given" in Matthew 7:7 is didōmi, which means "adventure, bring forth, commit, deliver, give, grant, receive." When I read those words, I was impressed with the implication of time. Sometimes the result of the promise, "Ask and it will be given to you..." is instant; sometimes it takes much longer; sometimes it comes with an "adventure," usually a faith adventure.
     Last time, we looked at 4 principles of asking. Let's review them and see if we can make a spiritual connection to each one:
1) Ask as if you expect to get it. That is an excellent way of pointing to the important concept of asking in faith. Matthew 21:22 says, "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
2) Ask someone who has the authority to give it to you. Remember our previous verse, Philippians 4:19? Look at the last part: "My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Ask God, in the name of Jesus.
3) Ask in a way that is clear and specific. In Luke 18:41, Jesus asks the blind beggar who had cried out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" the following question, "What do you want me to do for you?" Did Jesus not know the man was blind? Did Jesus not know what the man wanted? Of course Jesus knew the man was blind, and He knew the man wanted to see, but Jesus asked him the same question He asks you today, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man answers Jesus' question by responding, "Lord, I want to see." That is clear and specific.
4) Ask repeatedly. Unless what you're asking for is clearly stated in God's Word as God's Will, you should be persistent. In Luke 18:1-5, Jesus tells the parable of the persistent widow, who kept coming to the judge, to plead for justice. The purpose of this parable, according to Luke 18:1 is "to show [His disciples] that they should always pray and not give up" (NIV).
     Prayer is powerful, but God can do nothing until you ask. This has been His "track record" since the Book of Genesis. In the secular world, sometimes you don't ask because you're afraid of rejection. You deny yourself, when you do that. Someone once said, "Some will, some won't, so what!" Reject rejection! In the spiritual realm, "...You do not have, because you do not ask God" (James 4:2, NIV). If you do not ask, it won't happen.
    
What this has to do with weight loss: I have opportunity to talk to various people who are on the weight-loss journey, and their needs are many. More times than not, after listening to their situation, I will ask, "Have you prayed and asked God to help you with that?" More times than not, their answer will be, "No. I haven't thought to do that yet." You can almost hear, "I could have had a V8!"--the commercial. If you haven't asked God to help you, why don't you do that now, and be sure to listen for the answer and His help for your situation.

Confession:
According to the promise of Matthew 7:7, I ask in prayer, in faith believing that "it will be given to [me]."

Blessings,
Mary