Just Ask

When I was a kid, I remember having this cassette player that had microphones attached to it. I loved that thing.  I played and sang along with cassettes all the time. My favorite cassette had a song that went, “You got to ask if you want to receive. You got a seek if you want to find. You got to knock. For the door to be open, ASK is God's way."

​Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Matthew 7:7

Asking has always been a hard thing for me. For some reason I cannot disconnect asking for things from discontentment. I get stuck on the Philippians 4:11 where Paul tells us, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” The Greek word used for content means sufficient for one's self, strong enough or possessing enough to need no aid or support. My mind gets stuck on that if I am content I shouldn’t be asking for things. If I am asking for more I must not be content with what I have. 

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I think the brother of the prodigal son probably struggled with this as well. I was reading through the parable and this time the brother of the prodigal caught my attention. The prodigal was discontent with his life and asked for his inheritance. Having his inheritance wasn’t enough. He wasted it then came back. While he was wasting, his brother was working. The welcome home party started before they even told his brother he was home. The father had been fattening the calf for a celebration before the prodigal even came home. The brother, though, had given up on the prodigal’s return. When his hurt and bitterness kept him from joining the celebration, the father came out to speak with him. The brother launches all his complaints at his father. His father’s response pricked my heart.

And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. - Luke 15:31 KJV

The brother complains that he was never given even a baby goat so that he could celebrate with his friend, but his brother who wasted his inheritance was given a fatted calf and a huge celebration. His father reminds him that all that he had was the brother’s. If he had wanted to celebrate all he had to do was ask; it was already his. He was upset because he hadn’t received; but he never asked. Not just that but he didn’t ask for what was already his.

From whence [come] wars and fightings among you? [come they] not hence, [even] of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume [it] upon your lusts. - James 4:1-3 KJV

By the brother not asking for what he wanted, he caused contention with the prodigal. That contention can lead to fighting and coveting. The saddest part to me is that what he wanted was already his. He just had to ask. How many times have I wanted something from God, but didn’t ask? James said, “ye have not, because ye ask not.”

But what happens if I ask but I don’t receive? I know I have prayed for things and it felt like I didn’t get what I wanted. What then? James 4 also says, “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss.” This is where I wrestle in my mind. Maybe I wasn’t supposed to ask. I am just supposed to be content. I have to remind myself the Bible doesn’t contradict itself. I can be content and ask correctly. In Philipians 4 a couple verses before Paul talks about contentment, verse 6 says, "by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” How can you be content but ask for more? With thanksgiving. I can’t be truly content without first being thankful. Have I gotten so used to the blessings of God, that I have forgotten to be thankful? Have I started my requests with, “God you blessed this sister with this. Bless me, too.?”

Thankfulness changes your perspective and your focus. It will weed out needs from unnecessary desires. Philipians 4 also tells us to think on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praise worthy. Thankfulness brings those things into focus. With our hearts and minds in that posture, we ask things of God and receive.

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? - Matthew 7:11 KJV

In Mark 9 a father brings his demon possessed son to Jesus. He already had taken him to the disciples and they could do nothing for the boy. Jesus was his last hope. He was out of options and in despair.

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things [are] possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. - Mark 9:23-24 KJV

We have heard the testimonies of the miraculous things God has done. It can be easier for us to believe that He can do it for someone else. Especially if we have asked things of family, friends, doctors, legal counsel; you name it and we were told no. It can be hard to believe when Jesus is our last hope. What if He says no?  Can we cry out like the father? “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.”

I am the child of my heavenly Father. He has good gifts for me. Gifts that are already mine. What does He want to give me that I am not asking for? Am I living below what He intends because of a false sense of contentment or doubt?

Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. - Psalm 37:4 KJV

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