Have you asked God for what you want?

 
Do you already have everything you want? I mean in every sense, not just material things.  Is there anything you are lacking?  Is there any area of your life where you are not living it to the fullest?  Are you where you want to be with God?
 
If there is something that you are not content with then perhaps, like many people, you have told God about it.  But telling is not the same as asking.  In grade 1 at school, we learn the difference between a telling sentence and an asking sentence.  Yet, in life, we talk about what we don’t like, but we don’t seem to ask for it to be different.  Our four year old often complain, “I can’t do this.” But I don’t rush to his aid.  I wait for him to say “Could you help me, please?’ before I assist him.  Is it possible that God could be like that?  Could it be that we do not have, simply because we do not ask?
 
Now, I can hear some of you thinking that it is impolite, or even irreverent to ask God for things we want.  Maybe you believe that He has much bigger things to deal with than your request for a new job.  Maybe you think it selfish to ask Him for something when you know you already have more than some people, or perhaps you simply do not consider yourself worthy enough to ask for anything.  God counts each one of you worthy. He made you. God does not compare us to others. God is more significant than anything and able to deal with everything at once. God is not offended when we want more of Him. So why would it be irreverent to ask Him for something?
 
Did you ever write a Christmas list, or a Birthday list as a child and post it on the fridge, so that your parents could see what it was that you wanted?  Perhaps you still write one, so that your spouse and children give you something that you actually would like and not just another pair of socks or something that will gather dust.
It is entirely acceptable and even expected for a couple getting married to have a “Wedding List” of items they would like as gifts.  So why do we shy away from asking God for what we want?
 
I think we may have our doctrine of what is and is not acceptable to ask all wrong. Now, I admit that when the first words out of our children’s mouths when they arrive at their Grandparents’ house is “Can we have a snack?” I cringe and try to remind them of their manners.  But maybe they are more in tune with God than I am.  After all, their Grandparents love to give them snacks and treats; they love their grandchildren and enjoy giving them things that they delight in.  In fact, they anticipate the question and usually have snacks all set out ready for our arrival.  Isn’t that a picture of how God is?
 
God loves giving us good things.  He delights in giving us the desires of our hearts. He has a whole banquet of good things set out for us.  But if we do not ask the question then we often don’t even know that He has something for us.  And if we don’t know what He has for us, then how can we take hold of it?
 
It only takes the simplest of questions, and the innocence of a child’s eagerness to take all that is available to them. God has a big heart.  God is Love, so how could it be any other way.  He has so much in store for us.  If only we would ASK.

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