07/27/2022
We ask very little of God, and yet He has so much more that He wants to give us. We ask in prayer, and yet we only ask for a sip from His cup, when He actually wants us to drink our fill, cup after cup of His boundless blessings, the blood of Christ, and from the endless flow of His living water. Do we think that if we ask too much it might be presumptuous, or that we might exceed His grace? Do we fear that we will strain His mercy, or ask for something that is beyond His ability to give? No my brothers and sisters, our God can satisfy our every need, and will keep asking us if we want more. The name of Jesus is like the master key that opens up every storehouses of our Lord’s provision, and treasure to us.
“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:19 ESV
My wife is a wonderful cook, and when she prepares a large meal for our family we pray over it, thanking God and asking Him to bless the food, and then to bless the hands that prepared it. With God thusly acknowledged for His provision, we load our plates with every type of good food she has prepared. Finally, we reach that moment when we have eaten so much that we are nearly foundered, but she still continues asking us if we want more, and if we are now ready for dessert. Groaning, and with our appetites satiated, we thank her time and time again for the wonderful meal, and tell her that we can’t possibly eat another bite right now. We promise her that after we have rested for a while we will come back to the table to eat one of her amazing desserts… this is how the Lord wants to bless us! He doesn’t want us to leave His table, or our prayer closets, wanting more, but wants us to be completely satisfied, and promising Him that we will return for more.
“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,”
Ephesians 1:7 ESV
I have prayed with people who were facing terrible circumstances, and had tremendous needs, but listened to them as they approached our Lord as though they were almost embarrassed to ask Him for all they really wanted Him to do for them. As an intercessor I would then pray
for them, and with them, to help them lift up their true desires before the throne, and let them see that our Heavenly Father wants to satisfy their every need… fully!
“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Luke 11:13 ESV
The Holy Spirit helps us to pray when we don’t know how, and He is also one of the greatest gifts, and blessings we have been given. If God is prepared to give us His own Spirit, why would we think He would be reluctant, or unable, to give us our every appropriate need and desire?
We were told, invited, and even cajoled, by Jesus to ask Him for all that we need. He tells us to give Him our burdens, but even more than that, He tells us that if we believe He will give us all we ask for in His name. We ask, and Jesus does, so that God will be glorified…
“Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”
John 14:13-14 ESV
So how do we pray? Do we ask as we should? Do we believe, pray in the will of God, and ask in the name of Jesus? Are we afraid to ask too much of our God who wants us to leave His table fully satisfied, and wanting to return?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your loving desire to give us, your children, every good thing and blessing. Thank you for the endless provision, priceless treasures, and blessings that overflow your heavenly storehouses. Thank you for these things, your gifts, that are individually more than we could ever want, need, or hope for, but which together bring us to our knees in awe, and worship. Help us Lord to pray as we should, and trust in your ability to give us not only the small things that we feel that the world might be able to provide, but the miraculous gifts that are beyond our wildest dreams, and that only you can give. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who blesses us without limitation, and provides for us from your boundless bounty. Praised be your name for every good thing you give… great, and small. Merciful are you who hears our prayers, and provides for our rescue, relief, and redemption. Your grace abounds, and is our greatest hope. Father, wash us in the blood of Jesus, and cleanse us of every sin. See us as you would see Jesus Himself, worthy to stand in your presence, and to receive your every cup… your every loving gift… your incredible blessings. Seat us thus at your table, and feed us forevermore as we return throughout eternity to dine.
Rich Forbes