“If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father, who is in heaven, give good things to them that ask Him?” Matthew 7:11

Ask and Receive!

The bus that my kids ride to school each day conveniently pulls up right across the street from our house. Thus, I am normally not motivated to drive them to school aside from the few “special” times a year and even at that only if is convenient for me. One ordinary morning my oldest asked if I would drive them to school. I considered what my schedule was that day and decided that since it fit with my routine, I could. I liked surprising them here and there, but usually it centered around what I had going on.

As we drove along, I considered this situation and my mind once again compared the situation to God’s economy. What is His response when we come to Him asking for this or that? How are His answers and actions motivated? He, unlike me, is not limited in resources, time, money or anything! His motivations are not based on what is convenient for Him—rather, He always only has our best in mind when he responds. Even if the answer is no or wait, He is always at work for our good and His glory.

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you…” (Matthew 7:7).

So when I consider His gift-giving nature, I realize that He wants to draw us nearer to Him at all costs, and I believe He delights in fulfilling the desires of our heart that He has lovingly placed there.

Also, the Word says that He is not confined by time as we experience it. He longs for everyone to come to repentance: “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the LORD as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The LORD is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:8-9).

I think I need to lovingly, on-purpose, plan to delight my kids in a van-trip in the near future—no matter what I have going on!

“Heavenly Father, I am so grateful that You are not answering our prayers based on what is best for You or even to impress or spoil us. You always have our best in mind from your point of view, and I long for nothing less! May You receive all of the glory for every detail of our lives and may we decrease so that You can increase.”