Sometimes I think I just settle for the status quo when it comes to situations and where I am at in life. I tend to journey through life a little busy but not really expecting much to change. I will settle for where things are at. It is good to be content, right? For sure! But I have been challenged at least 4 times in the last few weeks around the issue of asking God for things.
Firstly, it is God's desire and nature to be generous, to provide and He has a heart of compassion and kindness.
Titus 3: 4-8. TPT
When the extraordinary compassion of God our Savior and his overpowering love suddenly appeared in person, as the brightness of a dawning day, he came to save us. Not because of any virtuous deed that we have done but only because of his extravagant mercy. He saved us, resurrecting us through the washing of rebirth. We are made completely new by the Holy Spirit, whom he splashed over us richly by Jesus, the Messiah, our Life Giver. So as a gift of his love, and since we are faultless -innocent before his face— we can now become heirs of all things, all because of an overflowing hope of eternal life.
I want you to especially emphasise these truths, so that those who believe in God will be careful to devote themselves to doing good works. It is always beautiful and profitable for believers to do good works.
Psalm 36: 5-9
Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, Lord, preserve both people and animals. How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.
Luke 12: 22-24
Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!
Romans 8: 31-32
...If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
God's supernatural provision is not something I am used to recognising every day. However, I believe it is there, even if I don't see it or identify it for what it is. I believe that God is in the details; He is in the small conversations, the incidental choices I make and in the conversations I have with various people. I heard a story from a friend a week ago - he is a friend who has experienced a fairly radical transformation from God in his life - he was involved previously with drugs and drink driving and now he is clean and ministering to others on a regular basis. He is struggling to find work due to a health condition he has, and his uncle has just given him a car - out of the blue and no strings attached. That sort of thing doesn't happen every day! He is a worthy recipient.
But who would ask God for a car? I guess it doesn't hurt to ask for such things even if our prayers aren't answered. But if something like that comes through - I guess its good to not hold onto it too tightly either, but rather to be generous, as the Lord our God is generous towards us. I honestly believe generosity is a spiritual gift, as is the faith to believe in the provision of God! When I bought my house, I recognised it to be a gift from God - I think it was just the right thing at the right time and at the right price, even if it was the very first property that I looked at. It is in a great location, and I am so very grateful for the stability of a home that I can invest in and call my own. But I am also aware that if it was given to my by God (I know its a slightly odd belief to have) then it is His, and it is an honour to use it to bless others in many ways as well. I also will not hold onto it too tightly - it won't be a forever home, I imagine. I am presently kind of dreaming about what might be next.
I would also like to think that life is a bit of adventure with God. I really do want to live by faith, not by sight (2 Cor 5:7), to please God, and to not hold onto earthly things too tightly; to be generous and to see the glory of God work its way out through my life. So much more fun!!
I was walking on a beach at night one time, and it started to rain. The wind was blowing, it was a little cool and I though about returning back to our cabin. But the stars were out (even with the light rain) and it was an absolutely beautiful place to be. I was aware that 20m or so to my left was the shelter and comfort of the trees and bushes, and 20m or so to my right was certain peril and death of the ocean and rocks. But where I was was a narrow way - a way of exposure to the elements but also of incredible wonder and beauty. My heart was happy. So I think it is with God - when we walk with him, with some risk, dedication and exposure, in faith and trust, it is only in this place that we see the glory of his Kingdom come. I don't want to run ahead of God (into the ocean if you like) and nor do I want to seek my own comfort and shelter. As the psalmist says (Ps 36), when we take shelter under His wings, we can feast on the abundance of His house and drink from His river of delights.
Asking can also be for others, and I have a friend who is the real intercessor - she always has been, and at times I have been out prayer walking with her. We were out for a 'normal' walk the other day and we just started praying around this whole Corona Virus situation here in Australia. She has been praying for some time now for 'elimination' of the virus here in Australia - rather than just keeping levels at a manageable level. We were praying along these lines today and I honestly believe that it could be simply because people like my friend faithfully pray around these things, that we find ourselves in the situation that we are currently in - I believe Melbourne is the only region/ city in the world that has successfully eliminated a Delta variant outbreak to date!! Praise God for his faithfulness in answering prayers. This is huge if there is a direct relationship! There is no evidence of that but I totally believe there is so much power in the asking.
It is similar, I guess, in the asking for healing and other miracles. I have been involved in healing ministry for long enough now to want to go after some stuff.... ❤️😀😳. So much fun when healing does break out and God gets all the glory.
Matthew 7: 7- 8. Amplified version
Ask and keep on asking and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking and you will find; knock and keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking receives, and he who keeps on seeking finds, and to him who keeps on knocking, it will be opened.
I love this in the amplified version of the bible - we will find if we push in a bit with persistence and faith!! And that is my experience - to ask in faith, to stretch out a bit further and to ask again. And you just never really know.
My intercessor friend has also seen (in her imagination/ as a vision) the face of an indigenous person - twice now when praying into the whole Corona virus thing. And so she has prayed for their protection a fair bit, and so far, our indigenous communities have remained safe. Is this a miracle? I would like to think so. To God be the glory.
What would happen if we ask for more? Or more importantly maybe, ask God to show us what to ask for? I love this idea that God can place such issues as the well being for our indigenous population into the hands of a few faithful intercessors. And we get to have fun in the journey of the mystery.
Isaiah 54: 2-3
“Enlarge the place of your tent,
stretch your tent curtains wide,
do not hold back;
lengthen your cords,
strengthen your stakes.
For you will spread out to the right and to the left;
your descendants will dispossess nations
and settle in their desolate cities.
Isaiah 54: 2-3 TPT
“Increase is coming, so enlarge your tent
and add extensions to your dwelling.
Hold nothing back! Make the tent ropes longer and the pegs stronger.
You will increase and spread out in every direction.
Your sons and daughters will conquer nations
and revitalize desolate cities.
Life really is an adventure with God.
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