Ask
Matthew 7:7-12
Luke 18:1-8
I know, we’ve all heard it time and time again.
“Pray without ceasing...” (1 Thess. 5:17)
“Devote yourself to prayer...” (Colossians 4:2)
“Faithfully pray...” (Romans 12:12)
“Always pray...”
It’s the same thing, said in different ways throughout God’s Word...
Pray.
And so, we do! We pray. We implore God to act. To heal, to save, to restore... to do something!
I know, you’ve already asked Him a million times... you’ve prayed over and over again!
But today, ask Him a million and one.
Ask Him AGAIN.
Ask Him again for that child to come home.
Ask Him to heal your broken marriage.
Ask for that mountain to be cast into the sea!
Ask Him... again for that friendship to be restored.
For that work to begin.
For that light at the end of the tunnel to finally appear.
Ask God to heal our land. To restore trust. To remove oppression and racism from our hearts. To work for justice and peace.
Ask Christ again... to rescue the one who needs rescue, to heal the one who needs healing, to direct the one who needs new direction, new guidance, new focus.
Yes... pray for the “one” in need. Again, and again.
Even if that “one” happens to be you.
Ask God again for what you need.
For the desires of your heart.
For joy in the sorrow.
For help in the struggle.
For perseverance.
Ask for the living-water to quench the dryness of your personal desert. Ask for the yoke that’s easy, and the burden that’s light.
Like the widow in our scripture. She kept asking! She kept coming - kept seeking justice! She didn’t give up. She knew she had no one else to turn to except the judge. And even though he didn’t care about this woman, or anyone else, he finally conceded. He finally granted her requests.
And, as our Lesson implies... God is nothing like the unjust judge. God will bring about justice. God hears the pleas of those who call out to him day and night!
So... ask Him again. Pray.
Take the time to join with Jesus at the well, and ask him to restore, and replenish the dead parts of your life.
Ask Him again to heal our land; and while you’re at it, give thanks... no matter how “off course, and out-of-control” things may seem.
Ask Him again, and again.
Ask Him to dig up the soil and plant the seeds.
Ask Him again to stir up and settle,
to make and remake,
to pour out His peace that passes all understanding, because the fact is... you and I need a good dose of God’s peace, don’t we?
Pray!
And the more “they” tell us that our “thoughts and prayers” aren’t enough... pray all the more. Because, as people of faith, we know better. We’ve witnessed the power of prayer in our own lives... and we also know God’s Word is faithful and true when it tell us that “the prayers of the faithful and righteous as powerful and effective.”
Pray!
Ask God over, and over again for all those things that seem lost - and nowhere near the realm of possible (for nothing is impossible for God)... He can, and will, answer!
Don’t misunderstand! We’re not persistent in prayer because we think God is deaf. We don’t ask again, and again because we don’t believe He heard you the first million times, but because you are realizing the longer you {truly} live, that persistence is a pretty strong faith-builder; not to mention how close it keeps you to the One who loved us first and loves us most.
Prayer builds up our relationship with the only One for whom all things are possible and nothing is too hard.
And, the fact is... faith-based strength to persevere... and closeness with our Savior is what you and I REALLY need. It’s all we really need to walk through any valley... any desert... any wilderness in this life.
So, ask Him again.
With fresh eyes and a renewed spirit and a passionate resolve that He can, and if it’s His Will… He will.
Oh... but that’s the rub... isn’t it. God’s Word tells us, that, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” (1 John 5:14-15).
If what we seek isn’t God’s Will for us... He will tell us... God answers every prayer. Even when we don’t like the answer.
Keep on seeking.
Keep believing.
Because persistent faith fastens it’s gaze on hope.
The hope that is always three steps {Father, Son, Holy Spirit} ahead, providing the perfect focal point.
Yes.
And it never disappoints.
Amen.
So today; bow low, look up, and ask Him AGAIN.
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