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 7:9-12
Continuing the Ask Seek Knock theme, Jesus asks the people a very practical question about the gifts their earthly fathers would give.
The point is that God enjoys giving His children good gifts. The problem comes – as it does in human relationships too – is that we ask amiss.
When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. James 4:3
Later in that same chapter of James, the author gives us a better idea what we are to do:
But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:6-8
When we are tight with God, we’ll better know His heart and what we should ask for.
The key to this, then – as it is in much of life – is to draw close to God. Simple words, of course, but not always easy to execute.
Still, though, we must try. Then it shouldn’t be a chore what to ask Him for.