GOD RESPONDS
Scripture:
John 16:24 "Until now you have not asked for anything in My
Name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be
complete."
God
loves communion and wants interaction with His people. He
could move us around and do as He pleases just as a chess player does
with a pawn on a chessboard, but God has entrusted to us our own
will. He would like for our wills to be submitted to Him, but He does not force it upon
us. He has graciously granted us freedom to do as we
please. When we exercise our will and express our
choice in words and actions, He responds.
Jesus
told His followers, "Until now you have not asked for anything in My
Name." He wanted them to express their need to Him and ask for
their provisions. If you are in situations today and wondering
why your needs are not met, could Jesus respond to you with
the same words, "So far, you have not asked
for anything in My Name"? We often have thoughts concerning our
needs but do not verbalize them into prayer because we may think that
our needs are too big or too small. Many blessings are
missed simply because we fail to ask. We just wait for God to
read our minds and so nothing happens. Consider a few
of the promises of a response from God that are
expressed in these scriptures:
Matt. 21:22 - "Whatsoever you shall ask in prayer believing, you shall
receive."
James 1:5 - "If you need wisdom, ask God ... and He will give it to you."
James 4:8 - "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you."
James 5:14 - "Is there any sick among you? Let him call for the elders
of the church and let them pray over him
...
and the prayer of faith shall save the sick"
Luke 11:9 - "Ask, and it shall be given to you;
Seek, and you shall find;
Knock, and it shall be opened to you."
If
you need or desire anything, whether it be wisdom, healing, or
finances, don't just think about it or talk to others about it, but
express your need to the Lord. He is listening and your
words of prayer will evoke a response on God's part. And as
Jesus said, “When you ask and receive, then your joy will be complete.” +++
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