Luke 11:10-13
“Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This is not a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we’re in. If your little boy asks for a serving of fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? If your little girl asks for an egg, do you trick her with a spider? As bad as you are, you wouldn’t think of such a thing—you’re at least decent to your own children. And don’t you think the Father who conceived you in love will give the Holy Spirit when you ask him?”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
This is the time of year when children ask Santa Claus for specific items…and they expect to receive them. After all, we’re talking about SANTA CLAUS! He would never disappoint a child…right? You and I both know that we adults have to sometimes do some fancy finagling…like when the child comes up with a totally new request, just days before Christmas - and after “Santa” has already “made” all of the toys asked for back in November!
Aren’t you glad that God doesn’t operate like this? Isn’t it comforting to know that we can go to Him any hour of the day and say, “Lord, I need…” and He will answer our request. Notice I did not say that God will always give us exactly what we asked for. God is not in the business of doling out wishes and whims willy-nilly! But God will always meet our true needs - according to His will for us.
Every year, I give the children pajamas, socks and underwear for Christmas. A few years ago, Timothy pulled a package of underwear out of his stocking, walked over to his father and said, “Here, Dad…these are for YOU!” Needless to say, our nephew was not impressed with this gift! But I knew that it was something that he and his siblings truly needed.
God always gives us what we need when we ask. He will ALWAYS send His Holy Spirit if we ask for comfort, wisdom, guidance and companionship…even when our actual requisition takes a more vague form, as in, “I need help with XYZ.” He may even send us an “underwear-type” gift, if that is what He feels is appropriate. But the point is…we will never lack when we seek God. He will always give us good and perfect gifts.
Thank goodness God doesn’t operate on the “naughty or nice” scale of giving. We will never be able to earn His goodness…nor will we deserve His gift of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. But God gives them anyway…because He loves us more than we can ever imagine. His “Christmas gift” is available to us 24/7/365. What a blessing!
What are you asking God for these days? And what are you expecting? When He gives you good and perfect gifts, will you recognize them and be truly grateful? Don’t you think you should be?
©2016 Debbie Robus
“Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This is not a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we’re in. If your little boy asks for a serving of fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? If your little girl asks for an egg, do you trick her with a spider? As bad as you are, you wouldn’t think of such a thing—you’re at least decent to your own children. And don’t you think the Father who conceived you in love will give the Holy Spirit when you ask him?”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
This is the time of year when children ask Santa Claus for specific items…and they expect to receive them. After all, we’re talking about SANTA CLAUS! He would never disappoint a child…right? You and I both know that we adults have to sometimes do some fancy finagling…like when the child comes up with a totally new request, just days before Christmas - and after “Santa” has already “made” all of the toys asked for back in November!
Aren’t you glad that God doesn’t operate like this? Isn’t it comforting to know that we can go to Him any hour of the day and say, “Lord, I need…” and He will answer our request. Notice I did not say that God will always give us exactly what we asked for. God is not in the business of doling out wishes and whims willy-nilly! But God will always meet our true needs - according to His will for us.
Every year, I give the children pajamas, socks and underwear for Christmas. A few years ago, Timothy pulled a package of underwear out of his stocking, walked over to his father and said, “Here, Dad…these are for YOU!” Needless to say, our nephew was not impressed with this gift! But I knew that it was something that he and his siblings truly needed.
God always gives us what we need when we ask. He will ALWAYS send His Holy Spirit if we ask for comfort, wisdom, guidance and companionship…even when our actual requisition takes a more vague form, as in, “I need help with XYZ.” He may even send us an “underwear-type” gift, if that is what He feels is appropriate. But the point is…we will never lack when we seek God. He will always give us good and perfect gifts.
Thank goodness God doesn’t operate on the “naughty or nice” scale of giving. We will never be able to earn His goodness…nor will we deserve His gift of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. But God gives them anyway…because He loves us more than we can ever imagine. His “Christmas gift” is available to us 24/7/365. What a blessing!
What are you asking God for these days? And what are you expecting? When He gives you good and perfect gifts, will you recognize them and be truly grateful? Don’t you think you should be?
©2016 Debbie Robus
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