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Discovering the Power of Asking God
One of the most powerful principles in God’s universe is the least understood and applied in our daily Christ-following. Scripture exhorts us to ask for what we lack. Yet we are reticent to do so for fear of abusing our relationship with Christ. However, once we consider scriptures, we are emboldened to approach our heavenly Father with our requests. So, let’s expand our ability and willingness to ask God for help by exploring one of the most powerful principles in the universe. I call it the ASK PRINCIPLE. It is simple yet profound and fully based on God’s Holy Word, the Bible. EMBRACE THIS PRINCIPLE ASK is the only acrostic in the Bible’s English translation. Matthew 7:7 spells it out for us: A = Ask; S = Seek; K = Knock. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8 NIV ASK IN LOVE How we ask matters. If we ask in love, we know we are being obedient, faithful Christ-followers. 9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:9-12 NIV Our Father in Heaven wants to bless us and is completely willing to hear and consider all our requests. We should not hold back any petitions. Let’s lay them at our Father’s feet and trust that he will answer them in his own time, realizing it may be once we are with him in Heaven. CONFIDENTLY ASK We can be confident in asking God for anything. Many Scriptures make an overwhelming case that God wants us to ask him for everything we can imagine and more. “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” 2 John 5:14-15 NIV To bolster our confidence, let’s examine the wide array of scriptures that support this idea. Ask in Jesus' Name: "And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." John 14:13-14 (NIV) Ask for Wisdom: "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." James 1:5 (NIV) Ask with Right Motives: "You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." James 4:2-3 (NIV) Present Your Requests: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6 (NIV) Believe and Receive: "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Mark 11:24 (NIV) Remain in Christ: "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." John 15:7 (NIV) Call on God: "Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you." Jeremiah 29:12 (NIV) Delight in the Lord: "Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4 (NIV) Call on God in Trouble: "Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me." Psalm 50:15 (NIV) The Prayer of Jabez: "Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, 'Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.' And God granted his request." 1 Chronicles 4:10 (NIV) CONCLUSION My final prayer for us is this powerful “ask” that the Apostle Paul made of God in Ephesians 1:17 for us to have greater wisdom and revelation, so we can deepen our relationship with Christ. “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.” Ephesians 1:17 NIV Notice that it isn’t a one-time ask. Paul says, “I keep asking …” So, too, let us keep asking God for all the desires of our hearts. And let us watch carefully what we ask for because that reveals a lot about where we are spiritually. Let us ask God for everything. Let us not grow tired of asking, even when what we ask for does not materialize. The act of asking brings us in contact with God, and he never gets tired of us praying to him. Ask well, my friends, Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. May 24, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate conversations with Christ. Overcome Circumstances by Discovering This Essential Key to More Contentment and Joy
Do you want more joy in life? We don’t often ask ourselves this, but it’s a worthwhile question. Ask: “Am I in the continual flow of Christ’s joy?” and “Am I satisfied with the amount I’m experiencing, or would I like more?” Most of us, myself included, would answer “no” to both questions. What about you? If you want more of Christ’s joy, let’s explore how to increase it together. As we examine ourselves, let’s look for discontentment with aspects of life. Following is my Top Ten Aspects of Life list. Consider this list and do an inventory.
As you review this list, pick out the areas of great contentment and joy. Then, smile, for these areas are ones to celebrate and for which to praise God. Now, pick out the one or two areas in which you have the most contentment and joy. Take these aspects of life into your prayer times with God and see what he says about them. Consider what actions to take in order to improve in areas of discontent. “What are you doing to increase your contentment and decrease your discontentment?” From what God has shown me, Christ-centered contentment is key to joyful living. The Apostle Paul explicitly discusses it in Philippians Chapter 4, which became an anchor verse for exploring this subject. “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:12-13 NIV Before we can fully experience joy, we have to ask ourselves what kind of joy we want. SEEK CHRIST’S JOY Do I want my version of joy? Or do I want God’s version? My version of joy leads me to serve my fleshly desires. After all, I want to be comfortable, feel good, and be happy. All three of these drivers can lead me to sinful behavior. A desire for comfort can transform into laziness. A desire to feel good can lead to over-eating, and focusing on personal happiness can lead to selfish, self-centered behavior. All three areas of sin rob me of Christ’s joy. How much greater and more lasting is God’s joy than ours? We are wise to opt for heavenly, eternal joy, which we can start experiencing now in some measure. BE CONTENT IN ALL THINGS The prerequisite for joy is contentment. If we are discontent, we block God’s joy from flowing in and through us. If our contentment is based on circumstances, we are bound to be discontent. The ups and downs of life create rollercoasters of emotion. If allowed, they will take us up and down like a yoyo. We can’t base contentment on momentary events. The Apostle Paul experienced tremendous extremes during earthly life yet found contentment “in any and every situation.” How? The reason lies between our ears. REMEMBER CHRIST’S JOY Think back to a time that you were in total, Holy Spirit-filled ecstasy. When I recall my last time experiencing an overflowing amount of Christ’s joy, I remember that experience, which was amazing. It was just last week singing in church, but I have not reflected on that overwhelming joy until now as I type these words. Why? My mind forgets things—small things and big things. It is far from perfect. What I read about is what I forget most. Word pictures are more memorable, but experiences often leave an indelible impression. A saying illustrates this: “I hear, and then forget; I see, and then remember; I do, and then understand.” Until we actually “do” the thing Paul did, we will likely not remember to employ this not-so-secret key to contented, joyful living. Even then, these experiences can be fleeting. What did Paul do that was so profound that he could find lasting contentment and great joy even in severely adverse circumstances? FULLY RELY ON CHRIST Paul's amazing ability to find contentment and joy stemmed from his unwavering reliance on Christ's strength. Despite facing numerous trials, vicious persecution, and constant uncertainty, Paul discovered the secret of contentment and joy through his deep relationship with Jesus Christ. The operative word here is “deep.” Paul's contentment didn’t depended on external circumstances but on his full trust in Christ's sufficiency and complete surrender to do God’s will. We, too, can surrender and rely entirely on Christ. By acknowledging our weaknesses and leaning on the Holy Spirit’s strength and power, we will resiliently endure inevitable hardships with a spirit of contentment. This will lead to us experiencing more and more of Christ’s joy. FOLLOW GODLY EXAMPLES Who do you know that is authentically full of Christ’s contentment and joy? Surrounding ourselves with those types of Christ-followers can have a very positive effect on us. Likewise, which Christ followers do you know that are most content in this earthly life? By following the example of the Apostle Paul and the example of others in our social circles, we can learn to experience greater contentment and joy. Let’s cultivate a deeper intimacy with Christ through prayer consistency, Scripture meditation, and Holy Spirit reliance. As we surrender our lives to Christ and trust in his unfailing strength, we can find contentment and joy that transcends our circumstances. "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NIV The key to experiencing lasting joy and contentment lies in the depth of our relationship with Jesus Christ. By fully trusting in Christ’s strength and completely surrendering to God’s will, we will more frequently find contentment in every situation. This condition of our soul predisposes us to experience a fuller joy in knowing the most joyful being in all existence–God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. May this be so in your life and mine. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. May 10, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate conversations with Christ. Insights from Philippians 2:14
I find it easy to complain about things. Usually, we don’t think of this as a sin, but it is. God lays out a clear mandate regarding this in Philippians. Upon reading this imperative, I questioned God because it seemed extreme to me. “Do everything without grumbling or arguing …” Philippians 2:14 NIV Dear Lord, can you help me understand “everything?” Does that include everything? Is this a typo? Didn’t you mean “some things.” There is much in this world to grumble and complain about! Child, I want those with a relationship with me to mature and better understand my expectations. I want you to be devoid of grumbling and arguing. Wow, Lord, this is hard. AVOID COMPLAINING It's easy to grumble and argue about various aspects of life. However, Philippians 2:14 reminds us to do everything without grumbling or arguing. Let's explore this verse and other scriptures reinforcing the importance of maintaining a positive attitude and spirit. This verse powerfully reminds us to approach every task, interaction, and circumstance with a spirit of gratitude and positivity. Rather than complaining or disputing, we're called to embrace a mindset of contentment and peace. Ephesians 4:29 encourages us to watch our words carefully. Instead of grumbling or arguing, our speech should be uplifting and edifying to others. "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4:29 NIV We bless others by speaking words of encouragement and kindness and avoiding complaining about them, others, or our own circumstances. AVOID ARGUING As Colossians 3:17 points out, we should not argue unless it is in the name of the Lord Jesus. How often do we argue in Christ’s name? For me, the answer is never. Any argument I have ever had has been in my name, for my rights, to get my way. My, my, my. There is a pattern here. Perhaps this describes your arguments as well. "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:17 NIV If we could remember to do everything in Jesus Christ's name and with a heart filled with thanksgiving, we would be much more joyful. Wouldn’t we? We don’t need to argue for our rights, which is what most arguments are about. God is already our advocate and has given us the right to heaven. "It is to one’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel." Proverbs 20:3 NIV Avoiding conflict and arguments is of tremendous value. As Proverbs 20:3 explains, it is honorable to seek peace rather than engage in strife. If I could only remember that when I think my rights are being violated by someone! May we always gain and maintain the mind of Christ. GAIN AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE Approaching life with an attitude of gratitude reduces our tendency to grumble or argue and encourages us to see every moment as an opportunity to honor God. Many spend hours in prayer, asking for God’s will to be manifested in our lives. Yet, Thessalonians 5:18 makes it clear what his will is for us. We're called to give thanks no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in. "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV Even in the midst of challenges and trials, there is always something to be grateful for. When we cultivate a spirit of thanksgiving, grumbling and arguing lose their grip on our hearts. CONCLUSION As we reflect on these scriptures, let's strive to live free from grumbling and arguing. Instead, let's choose gratitude, kindness, and positivity in all that we do. By doing so, we honor God and contribute to a more loving and harmonious world. Let's embrace the challenge of Philippians 2:14 and let our lives shine with the light of Christ. Complaint-free living will result in more of Christ’s joy, peace, and love. We can’t argue against that, right? Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. April 30, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate conversations with Christ. Words Greatly Matter for Our Spiritual Condition
Words matter. God’s words, our words, and the words of others—what we say can have incredible positive or negative impact. Indeed, words greatly matter. PERFECT WORDS The greatest writer of all time wrote the single best masterpiece of literature. In it, he repeatedly tells us that his words matter most. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:1-5 NIV God always chooses His words with perfect precision. We won’t perfectly understand His Word until Heaven, but we study the Bible and try. Devoted Christ-followers strive with all their might to grasp Christ’s messages from his holy Word, the Bible. God’s word is rich and feeds our souls. It is a tremendous gift and it is ours to explore, study, and cherish. God’s words are always full of wisdom. On the other hand, we mortals are often guilty of gushing forth careless, meaningless, or innocuous words. Worse, we can spew hurtful, mean, or destructive ones. Our foolish words lead to foolish ways. As Isaiah 55:8-9 demonstrates, God’s ways are not even close to ours. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, ”declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV We should aspire to be like Christ, and choose our words carefully. Often, though, that is not what happens. Out of our foolish thoughts come foolish words–those that should not have been said. Allow me a slightly divergent thought but a corollary to this idea. There are also words we do not say, that we should say. But I digress. FOOLISH WORDS I sometimes have the lips of a fool. Carelessly, sometimes recklessly, I’ll say the wrong thing, the right thing at the wrong time, or the right thing in the wrong way. Whatever the situation, it usually results in a negative outcome. I’ve heard it said: “Say what you mean, and mean what you say, but just don’t say it mean.” It is a saying worth remembering. Proverbs 18:6-7 reminds me that my foolish words will bring me pain, suffering, and even death! It is avoidable if I rely on God’s wisdom, not mine. “The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating. The mouths of fools are their undoing, and their lips are a snare to their very lives.” Proverbs 18:6-7 NIV God’s wisdom tells us to repent over our foolish utterances. And then, to immediately retract a foolish statement by admitting what we said was not the words of life Christ wants us to speak. But no, not me! When being a fool, I follow the motto: “When you’ve dug yourself into a hole, keep digging!” Unconsciously, I shut down the Holy Spirit, take back control of my life, and keep my lips moving as the hole gets deeper and deeper. The negative consequence of my ditch digging produces unwanted strife. STRIFE IS A DISTRACTION If we are not careful, our words can produce relational strife, which distracts us from focusing on the joy, peace, and love of Christ. I thank God for my wife, who has a very low tolerance for strife. Her negative reaction to my foolishness is such a blessing that it pulls me back to a calm, steady state for a while—until my next display of foolishness. Ugh. Poor Patty, who has to put up with such a broken vessel. Words reflect our thoughts and can create environments of conflict or peace. How often do we embroil ourselves in disputes because of hasty or harsh words? It's as though our tongues are small fires capable of igniting great forests. "Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one's life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell." James 3:5-6 NIV Scripture guides us in harnessing our words to bless others. It helps us avoid burning down the forest of relationships. Green is good. Red is bad. I need to stay in the green zone, and when I see yellow smoke, quickly put out the fire with the love of Christ and the power of God’s Holy Spirit. James 3:17-18 teaches that while no human can fully tame the tongue, we can and should aim to always align our speech with the divine, keeping our serenity, and that of others, in the lush green zone. "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness." James 3:17-18 NIV Once I realize I’ve said foolish things and created strife, I repent to God and attempt to make amends with the person who had to bear my foolishness. Sometimes, this isn’t possible. For example, sometimes I am a fool with an unnamed person in a customer call center. My idea that they are there to serve me often gets me in trouble. We remember Mark 10:45 and realize we are here to serve, not be served. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45 NIV Whenever I’ve been a fool, Christ always comes to the rescue. His Word gives me hope, discipline, and direction. His word promises me I have a future with him in heaven for eternity. His word disciplines me and provides corrective actions. And his word gives me greater intimacy with Christ. WARNINGS FROM SCRIPTURE Scriptures are replete with warnings to choose our words carefully. For example: "Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips." (Psalm 141:3 NIV). This prayer of David is a beautiful plea for divine intervention to control one’s speech. It acknowledges the power of words and the necessity of wisdom in using them. As followers of Christ, we are called to speak in ways that reflect His love and truth. Ephesians 4:29 guides us to use words to build each other up. "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." (Ephesians 4:29 NIV). This directive encourages us to use our words for edification rather than destruction, aiming to uplift rather than undermine. The grace of God is our ever-present help in moments of foolishness. When we fail, as described in Proverbs 28:13, we are assured mercy if we confess our folly. God is always faithful in forgiving and restoring us. "Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy." Proverbs 28:13 NIV Even when our lips lead us into deep pits of strife, Jesus's redemptive love is steadfast. He extends his hand and pulls us out of the self-inflicted trenches we’ve dug. 1 John 1:9 assures us we’re purified from our sins if we confess and repent. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9 NIV Then, we can move on to words of healing as Christ applies the balm of forgiveness. God forgives us, and we forgive others. But we can’t give this gift to others if we have not received it ourselves. Step One is to fully receive Christ’s pardon for our foolish words; Step Two is to pass on this gift we’ve received from Christ to our fellow sojourners. WORDS OF HEALING In a world where words often divide, we are called to speak life into each other's hearts. Our words should not be weapons but tools for healing and encouragement. The Apostle Paul exhorts us in Ephesians 4:29 to use our speech to build up those around us, particularly within the community of believers. "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4:29 NIV This passage reminds us that our words should be apt and uplifting, tailored to the listener's needs. When we follow this scriptural advice, our words become a source of comfort and strength to others. We can feel the fresh breeze of the Holy Spirit blowing gently across our cheeks. Free from strife and discord, we can experience greater joy and peace, which is God’s desire for those who follow him. CONCLUSION Words truly matter. They have the power to create or destroy. Our words can serve to heal or harm. God’s wisdom dictates that we heed Biblical instruction to watch our words carefully. We must intentionally choose our words with precision, understanding their impact is often profound. Let’s always reflect God's heart in what we say. And when we are the inevitable fool, let us quickly repent to one another lest we shut off the sunlight of God’s Holy Spirit. May we avoid the dark clouds of strife and enjoy bright sunny days basking in the glow of God’s radiant peace and love. As we absorb and live out the wisdom of the Bible, may we use our words to glorify God and edify those around us. I pray we quickly turn away from foolish utterances that lead to strife and embrace and share words of life that feed our souls. Finally, let us continually seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance to control our tongues. We’ll avoid pitfalls of foolishness and glorify God in word and deed. May our words be obedient instruments of His grace and truth, drawing others closer to the love of Christ. Amen. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. April 24, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate conversations with Christ. |
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