Alvin Vandergriend- As a father, I have always wanted good things for our four children. I have deeply desired that they have firm faith, wholesome morals, excellent educational opportunities, fine friends, good jobs, strong marriages, lovely children, and stable lives.
I have hoped and prayed that their lives may be full of love, joy, and peace. I have wanted all this despite the fact that, as an earthly father, I don't hold a candle to the heavenly Father. (Google image, Father holding son)
Jesus makes clear that our heavenly Father, who is perfect in His love and unlimited in power, wants good things for us His children. And He assures us that the Father is willing to give good gifts to His children, much more willing than any earthly father or mother.
There's just one hitch. In order to receive the good things the Father wants for them, His children have to ask. Not to ask is not to receive. That's what some spiritually deprived believers found out the hard way. James said [to] them, "You do not have, because you do not ask God" (James 4:2).
The "good gifts" Jesus has in mind are the spiritual blessings of grace, wisdom, joy, peace, power, holiness, and so on. these are things in accord with God's will. We can ask the Father for them with absolute assurance that He will give them to us. It's what He has promised.
What an amazing promise! Getting hold of this promise revolutionized my spiritual life. I searched the Scriptures for the good things God wanted for me. I asked for the. And, true to His promise, God began to give them--not in huge once-for-all doses, but little by little. Every time I began to ask for some new good thing, if I watched closely, I began to see God working that good thing into my life.
God is eager to give. He's on the lookout for children who will take Him at His word and ask in faith. As one Old Testament prophet put it, "The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him" 2 Chronicles 16:9).
God is probably looking at you right now and waiting for you to ask good things of Him. I have a feeling He'll be disappointed if you don't go for the max and ask Him for all sorts of really good things--things that He is really eager to give you--right now.
(pp. 36, 37 in Love to Pray- 40 Day Devotional for Deepening Your Prayer Life by Alvin Vandergriend)
Let's pray-
Father, may we realize that You're eager to bless us with good things that You are ready to give us. Our lives have had many blessings we could relate to, that You've blessed us with over the years. Those of us who have enjoyed good health, for example, have much to be thankful for!
That You are willing and Able to give good gifts to those who ask is amazing! We are looking to You to help us empty our hearts and lives of the worldly things that take much too much room in our lives and hearts. Help us make room for the good gifts You'd love to give us!
We give You thanks for the good gifts You plan on bestowing on us, Your children. Help us take note of them, so we can thank You properly, and appreciate each one. May we desire good gifts in order to bring glory to our Lord Jesus' efforts to mature us in faith, to make us ready for heaven's glory!
We ask this in the precious name of Jesus. Amen
"Our Lord Jesus, in a solemn and significant conversation with His disciples, warned us to expect troublesome times in the latter days. Our Lord instructed His followers not to be alarmed and frightened by such happenings although we cannot but be burdened by the increasing iniquity. And He told us to pay close attention and be vigilant. "Take heed," He repeated to them several times as He addressed them (Mark 13:5, 9, 23, 33). "Watch and pray!" He solemnly charged them.
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located in the St. Lawrence county of NY,
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