Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask
for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be
opened to you. F
or everyone who asks, receives.
Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8 NLT
God
says…
Keep
on asking…because we’re going to go through this together. You and Me.
God
wants to hear from us, not just when we’re asking for something, but about
everything throughout the day. Yes, we can keep asking, but He doesn’t just
give His response so we can be on our way. He wants to spend time with us.
I
think there is a difference between what we think about “keep asking” and what
God thinks, and the difference is where our focus is.
If
I’m focused on my prayers and what I want, then I’m asking and asking for the
purpose of getting an answer. Preferably the answer I want to hear.
But
when my focus is on God Himself, He offers so much more than just answers. He
offers a relationship with Him.
Moses
experienced this close relationship with God. Even when God was so angry with
the Israelites that He was ready to destroy them, Moses interceded for them.
Then the Lord said, “I have seen how
stubborn and rebellious these people are. Now leave me alone so my fierce anger can blaze against
them, and I will destroy them. Then I will make you, Moses, into a great
nation.”
But Moses tried to pacify the Lord
his God. “O Lord!” he said. “Why are you so angry with your own people whom you
brought from the land of Egypt with such great power and such a strong hand?...Turn away from your fierce anger. Change your mind about
this terrible disaster you have threatened against your people!...”
So the Lord changed his mind about
the terrible disaster he had threatened to bring on his people.
Exodus 32:9-14 NLT
Moses
didn’t pray for the sole purpose of getting an answer from the God he didn’t
really know. Moses spent time with God—so much time that he knew he could ask
God to change His mind. That’s not an easy thing to ask if you have to
reacquaint yourself with God first.
In
fact, Moses and God were so close, after God told Moses He would go with them,
Moses made sure…and then he even asked to see God!
The Lord replied, “I will personally go with you,
Moses, and I will give you rest—everything will be fine for you.”
Then Moses said, “If you don’t personally go with
us, don’t make us leave this place. How will anyone know
that you look favorably on me—on me and on your people—if you don’t go with us?
For your presence among us sets your people and me apart from all other people
on the earth.”
The Lord replied to Moses, “I will indeed do what
you have asked, for I look favorably on you, and I know you by name.”
Moses responded, “Then show me your glorious
presence.” Exodus 33:14-18 NLT
That’s
a pretty gutsy request. But the relationship between God and Moses was so close
God responded quickly and favorably. (Exodus 33:19-23) How close of a
relationship did God and Moses have?
…the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one
speaks to a friend. Exodus 33:11 NLT
Moses
didn’t keep asking God just because he wanted something. He was talking to a
very close friend. He included God in all parts of his life.
That’s
what God offers us—not just answers to prayer, but life with Him.
God
says keep asking...because we’re going to go through this together. You and Me.
Thank you for visiting here today. If you’re following
our online study of Sheila Walsh’s The Shelter of God’s Promises, we are in
Chapter 9, “More…I Know There’s Something Better.”
Are you comfortable to keep asking? Where is your focus
when you ask? If you’d like to share with us, please leave a comment.
In Christ,
Laura
Linking up with
On Your Heart Tuesday,
WholeHearted Home,
Word Filled Wednesday,
Women Living Well Wednesdays,
Thought Provoking Thursday,
God-Bumps and God-Incidences,
Unwrapping His Promises,
Winsome Wednesday,
Faith Filled Friday,
Spiritual Sundays, and
Sharing His Beauty.
Plans are under way to start 2013 with a new online Bible study!
