What Are You A.S.K.ing For?

Most parents love to give gifts to their children—and a lot of them excel at it.

 

Gifts that parents give their kids come in a variety of packages.

 

A lot of parents give their children new cars on their 16^th birthday. But one set of parents I know gave their son a riding lawn mower and an edger and a blower so he could build a lawn business that will help him pay for college. They also helped him purchase a used pick-up truck to carry the lawn equipment to his clients.

 

Most parents take their children clothes shopping several times a year, buying them their basic wardrobe needs, plus clothes for special occasions, as well as whatever latest trends their friends are wearing. Other parents give their older children an annual or seasonal amount of money for their wardrobe and help them learn to budget while they are still at home.

 

If the children were given a choice, I’m sure they would always choose the easy way—like the new car and the shopping trips paid for by their parents. But if they could see the wisdom they would acquire and how it would serve them the rest of their life by taking the other route . . . I STILL think most of them would choose the easy route.

 

Because they’re children. And that’s why they need parents who know what’s best for them—whether it’s the easy way in one particular situation or the more indirect route in another.

 

As Jesus followers, we have THE BEST DADDY. Our Heavenly Father knows exactly what we need—and He’s not looking at just today. He has the unique perspective that allows Him to know what we need NOW that will give us the best advantage in the future.

 

Have you ever asked God for something and He gave you something totally different? I know I have. And at the time, I wondered why He didn’t give me what I asked for. I wasn’t asking for anything evil. In fact, it was what I considered the best answer for the situation.

 

But later on—to be honest it was YEARS down the road—I looked back and saw what He did and why. The wisdom I gained by not getting the “easy” answer has given me the advantage in many situations in my life.

 

The Amplified Bible says “keep on” asking, seeking, and knocking. And it says to knock “reverently.” Jesus isn’t telling us to “name it and claim it” here.

 

I think He’s saying that if you’re not getting your answer as quickly as you think you need it, don’t give up.

• Keep going to God and asking Him because He is the source of all good gifts.
• Keep looking for His answer because it’s going to show up. It may not show up when or where you expect it and it may look totally different than you thought it would. But it will show up.
• Keep reverently knocking on that closed door. Not demanding, but expecting it to open.

 

And then KNOW that your Heavenly Daddy is going to give you the absolute BEST gift. He knows what’s best for you and He has the power to bring it about in your life.

 

Your gift from God may not be wrapped like you expect. It may not be the gift you think you asked for. In fact, it may be the exact opposite of what you were expecting Him to give you.

 

But you can trust that God doesn’t make mistakes and He doesn’t give His children anything but the best.

 

So say, “Thank You, Daddy.” And then smile, because this gift is going to work to your advantage for years to come.

 

 

Matthew 7:7-11 (AMP)

⁷ Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you.

⁸ For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened.

⁹ Or what man is there of you, if his son asks him for a loaf of bread, will hand him a stone?

¹⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, will hand him a serpent?

¹¹ If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father Who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give good and advantageous things to those who keep on asking Him!