For the next two minutes, imagine you believe the following…
I can ask Dad for anything and I will get it.
Anything.
If I ask for 10 million dollars and a blue Ferrari…I will get 10 million dollars and a blue Ferrari.
If I ask for happiness, peace and security…I will get happiness, peace and security.
If I ask for my child to never get sick...he will never get sick.
If I ask to hear Dad’s voice audibly, see his face clearly, and smell his perfume daily…it will be granted.
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. (Matthew 21:22)
You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. (John 14:14)
[I chose you]…and so whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. (John 15:16)
Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. (John 16:23)
…Even if that’s not the exact meaning, apparently I am doing it:
(Notice there’s no “if” statement following that verse. It’s a period.)
1.) I’ve asked for [insert whatever here], and didn’t get it, so this verse must not be true!
Answer: I’ve laid hands on sick people and they didn’t get healed. What does that mean? Nothing. Dad says when we lay hands on the sick, they recover. That’s the truth. My experience does not define truth; Dad does. We don’t read the Bible and then go see if it’s true. We read the Bible and believe. If there is a discrepancy between the Bible and my experience, the Bible trumps my experience.
2.) I’ve asked for [insert whatever here], and didn’t get it, so now I feel embarrassed and ashamed.
Answer: That’s the enemy. He loves it when you’re scared. Don’t listen to him. Focus on the truth and Jesus. When we lay hands on someone and they don’t get healed, we don’t look at ourselves. We didn’t “do it wrong”. We don’t go talk to our pastor to explain the experience. Same thing with asking. If I don’t get something, I just open the bible again to make sure I read the verses right. Yup, sure enough; whatever I ask for! End of discussion. After this, I put all my confidence and belief on the fact that Jesus told me the truth.
3.) God won’t give you a Lamborghini, because it could hurt you.
Answer: Why are you pessimistically betting on pain? Is it because you don’t have confidence in yourself? Well, you are a new person now who has lots of wisdom, is highly favored and deeply loved. You’re safe. The old thought process says, “God won’t give me unlimited freedom because it could hurt me”. Guess what? He did. Through the cross, Dad gave you the power to do anything you want and still be righteous. Now ask for that Lamborghini and step on the gas!!
4.) God said he only gives good gifts…meaning he won’t give you bad stuff even if you ask for it!
Answer: Amen to that! I agree. Dad is not some cold-hearted genie in a bottle. He loves you very much. If you don’t like something, it probably didn’t come from Dad. He takes his role as “Awesome Gift-Giver” very seriously! Never let anyone convince you that some lame “gift” came from Dad. He is madly in love with you and is a creative genius!
5.) I shouldn’t have to ask for anything. God gave me everything at the cross and knows all my needs.
Answer: Wow, check you out! Believer of the year!! Although that’s impressive, let’s find out what Jesus says about Dad knowing everything. “Your Father knows what you need before you ask him; this, then, is how you should pray” (Mat. 6:8). Although God is all-knowing and has promised to meet all of our needs, for whatever reason he still wants us to ask. (I think it’s about relationship, personally.)
I hope that helped! For those of you who still don’t want to believe Dad will give you anything you ask for, I just have one question.
Your post is on target. Here we have the most incredibly, outrageously loving Daddy God who is bursting at the seams to bless us, and historically when we ask for something, it's with a downcast face expecting little or nothing. What message are we really sending to God?
ReplyDeleteWhat if a child talked to his parent that way? Like, "Father, would you please feed me?" A normal parent would get exasperated......."stop asking like that! Of course, I'm going to feed you! What do you want?"
How is God different? If my earthly parents like to surprise me with great stuff, how do I end up imagining that Daddy God is a greedy cheapskate? Could it be that our Lord is sick and tired of our lack of belief in his goodness? Did we all just think he was made of stone and has no feelings?
I'm grateful for the truth you post. Keep writing.