Why not ask?

Scripture:

7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
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 7:7-12

Devotional:

I had a conversation with my 6 year old son a couple of weeks ago. We saw an ambulance driving by and he said “Papa, why are there ambulances?” I wasn't quite sure what he meant, so I asked him. His response surprised me. “Why are there ambulances? God can heal everything!” I responded with the first thing I thought of, “You’re absolutely right, but some people just don’t know that they can ask Him to heal them.” 

The more I’ve sat with this thought, the more I’m convinced that it’s not just that people don’t know they can ask God, it’s that they also think that even if they ask Him, God won’t give them what they want/need. 

One of my favourite Dave Matthews Band songs is called “Grey Street,” it has this verse that says:
“How she wishes it was different
She prays to God most every night
And though she swears He doesn't listen
There's still a hope in her He might”

I think this really encapsulates how many of us think. We truly believe that our prayers fall on deaf ears, and that God is pleased with our suffering. The reality is very, very different. 
Not only is it true that God longs to give good gifts, but all of the things in your life that you have to be thankful for, are the direct result of His giving good gifts to you. Your family, your spouse, your home, your career, your peace, even the very breath in your lungs is there because God gave it to you. Why would you hesitate to ask Him for anything when He so freely gives to you with every breath? 

God is not a cruel father who would give you a snake instead of a fish, or a stone instead of bread. He’s a father who loves giving freely to you. 
And he asks us to do the same. Verse 12 really sums this up with what many would label “the golden rule.” This isn’t God’s plea with us to be nice to each other. It’s Him commanding us to give to others the way He gives; holding nothing back. To give the way God does is an act of incredible love that no one can argue with. 

Today, let’s remember that just as everything we already have is His, we don’t have to hold back from asking him for whatever we want or need. As He provides for us, let’s pass on the generosity He has extended to us.  

Prayer:

Father, I ask today that you would provide for my every need. I ask you to give me the desires of my heart. As you pour out your blessings on me, I commit to being a generous giver to others like you have been to me so that more people may share in your blessings. Amen.