VOD: verse of the day

Make Your Requests Known to God

About four months ago...I was told by a friend to check out two verses. They had felt led to pray for me during a Sunday drive and from that these were revealed to reflect on...I have shared the first in my last post and now the second:

5Then he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.'

7"Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' 8I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

9"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

11"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

Luke 11:5-13 (New International Version)

Friend's comment: this one confuses me, because it almost seems to suggest we can persuade God by persistant prayer... maybe we can, I dunno, but I never thought about that

What we ask for may not be given, however, what is given in these prayer requests and what we should be praying for is discernment and peace from the Holy Spirit. Look at what verse 13 is saying, our Father in Heaven is giving us the Holy Spirit. It doesn't say the exact thing you are asking for. No! Because if we think about it more, what type of infinate wisdom do we have to know what we are asking for is really helpful or benificial to our situation or need? We don't. Only until we ask God for his guidance and patiently wait for His Holy Spirit do we have an idea. I say idea because more often than not God doesn't reveal his whole plan in a situation nor would we be aware of the whole impact of one move in one moment. Often though we can look back in retrospect of our lives and see how His hand has guided us through troubles and showered us with blessings to get us to where we are now.

posted by Tamara @ 2:49 PM