““Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”
Matthew 7:7-8 ESV
I was talking on the phone with one of our coaches and as he was about to pray, he said he had the word “ask” on his heart. He said that the Lord wanted me to ask the Lord what He wanted for me. He wants me to ask Him for things, not just simple, “please keep me safe,” or “please be with us the next three months in Nicaragua.” He wanted me to ask for bold things.
Sometimes I hesitate to ask God for things. I tend to think I’ve reached my level of asking Him for things I would like to see. I seem to think of it as a burden at times. Does God really want to hear what I need? I mean He knows me so He should know what I need or want right? He hears my thoughts so I shouldn’t have to verbally ask what those needs are.
So as my coach was praying, I was praying that my heart would be open to ask for what I really wanted or needed. After I got off the phone, I spent some time reading Matthew 7 and my heart was opened to really seeing God’s heart. He wants us to ask, He wants us to want Him. He took me back to a memory of my dad giving me something when I was little that I really wanted for my birthday. He drove and spent many hours to try and find what I really wanted. Not until a few years later did I find out how much he searched for that one thing, but the excitement on my face when I opened that present was enough for him and it was worth the hassle trying to find it.
God wants us to ask Him for things, He is a God who loves us and wants us to not shy away from asking Him for things.
The promise of “ask and receive,” even with its conditions, can never disappoint. There is no chance of things we need not being in God’s will. He promises to supply what we need when we “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). Of course, what we want is not always what we need. If what we want is not in God’s will, then we really don’t want to receive it. God knows what is good for us and is faithful and loving to say “no” to selfish and foolish prayers, no matter how much we want what we’re asking for.
In Matthew 21:22 Jesus again emphasizes faith: “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
So here on this blog I am sharing what I am asking God for in the coming months. You can be involved with it too by praying alongside me and the squad.
1. I’m asking His presence to cover all of Nicaragua, that when we walk and talk to people here they will see the light and be welcomed by the love we have from the Father.
2. I’m asking God will open my eyes to see the people as He sees, that my heart breaks for what breaks His. That I won’t be scared to go into the hard places to speak the truth and and to pray for the sick. That I will see miracles and people accepting Jesus.
3. I’m asking that the Lord will begin paving the way for a door to open for a job when I get home. Whether it’s something with my degree or not, that it will be a place where I can share the love of Jesus and bring hope to people who have lost it.
4. I’m asking that the Lord will bring people alongside me and financially support me for the rest of this race. I’m so close to being funded and I see it as a hassle sometimes, but the Lord has given me fresh eyes to see that the people who support are not just supporting me, but they are helping me continue to disciple other people to then go out to disciple others.
Is there anything that you want to ask God for, but you are hesitating? Take some time with Him and talk with Him. Ask Him, it’s not too much for Him. Nothing is impossible for God.
I’m excited to see what the Lord has for the next 3 months in Nicaragua. I’m excited to see God move in my heart and the hearts of the racers. Please be praying for safety and good health for the squad.
God Bless!
