2 Chronicles 1:7
‘In that night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask what I shall give you”‘.
God was doing something special with Solomon. However, the bible tells us that God wants us to ask of Him. Here’s what Jesus said, “Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete”, (John 16:24). How amazing is that. God wants us to ask of Him.
We want things and we want a smooth, happy life. This is universal. Another truth is that God wants to bless us. John 3:16 speaks of the greatness of God’s love for us, “For God so loved the world that He gave His Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life.” Jesus gave Himself us to pay for our sins and save us from grief and hell. That’s a lot. So much so that we will never quite get it. He does love us.
We see parents go to great lengths for their children. This is a picture of God’s love. Luke 11:13 says “if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” That phrase “how much more” speaks volumes. Our human minds can’t quite grasp how much.
Lamentations 3:22,23 says, “Therefore I wait. The LORD’S acts of mercy indeed do not end, For His compassions do not fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” Look how God greets us each morning, with mercy. Sometimes the day before was fine, sometimes not. We need His mercy.
Sometimes when we give something to another, we give with mixed motives. There is a selfish agenda. Not so with God. He’s pure and it’s all love. He blesses all of creation, even though many aren’t grateful and they don’t serve Him.
Jesus wants us to ask. The second part of that statement is “so that your joy may be full”. He wants us to be happy. Now that doesn’t mean we always get what we want. James 4:3 says, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask with the wrong motives, so that you may spend what you request on your pleasures.” Pleasures here is referring to some sort of greed or lust.
The James passage is in the context of selfishness. We are to love one another. This doesn’t mean God doesn’t want to bless us. He does. He just wants us to bless one another. If we have no thoughts towards others, then we are missing it. This love that God has towards us, He wants us to have towards others. He equips us in many ways to do so.
So ask. We can even ask Him what to ask for. He wants our joy full. I’ve got interests just like everyone. Sometimes when I explore them, I feel a door close. That’s ok. God is keeping me from grief and exhaustion. I know it at the time. That’s His mercy as well.
Psalm 2:8 says, “Ask Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance, the ends of the earth Your possession.” God wants to save souls. Ask for them. God is seeking to draw all men (and women) to himself. Ask for them.
God partners with us to bring in His kingdom. I don’t mean the second coming, but bringing in His reign by praying for and establishing His ways in our lives and in the lives around us. What a privilege. He asks us to pray, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”.
Thank You, God for answered prayer. You are so good to us. Thank You for Your will and Your ways.