4 Steps to Surrender: Step 3 Ask
Matthew 7:7-11, “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”
The Message version says it like this,
“Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This isn’t a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we’re in. If your child asks for bread, do you trick him with sawdust? If he asks for fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? As bad as you are, you wouldn’t think of such a thing. You’re at least decent to your own children. So don’t you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better?”
I love these verses no matter the version.
They are a straight to the point powerful reminder that God is our, Abba Father. Abba is a term of endearment. Abba is like calling God – Daddy. These words draw us back to this by putting us in our place as they tell us the love we have for our own children pales in comparison for God’s love for us. He’s not only a Father to us, he is a Daddy…. and that truth wraps us in comfort as we realize we can talk to him about EVERYTHING. His love for us in these words are amazing to consider when I look at my relationship with my own parents and my unconditional love for my children… to think that a greater love is possible is mind boggling – but God’s word says it, and that’s truth.
These verses tell us to ASK.
Asking for something, can be difficult. I like how the Message version likens this to cat-and-mouse and hide-and-seek. We’re like that sometimes when it comes to asking for things. We’ll go around it a thousand times without directly saying what it is we want. This is frustrating when we experience this in the business world, in our marriage, with our children. It can drive us batty – can you imagine God’s thoughts – when he already knows our need yet we won’t just come out and ask him?
I’m not sure why asking can be so complicated, but it is. We can have burning questions inside, and still refuse to open our mouth and speak. We withhold them for whatever reason, yet God says over and over to ask – and it will be given – seek and you will find – knock and it will be opened to you.
It all begins with an ask…
1 Chronicles 16:11, “Seek the Lord and his strength; Seek His face continually.”
4 Verses: the necessity of Asking
Philippians 4:6, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplications with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
John 16:24, “Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.”
Psalm 107:6, “Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble; He delivered them out of their distresses.”
James 5:13, “Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises.”
Communication is key to ALL relationships
…even when it comes to our Heavenly Father.
Yes, God knows what we need without us saying, but He’s a perfect gentleman – and we have free will. So, yes, he knows what we have need of before we ask, but he didn’t want robots to serve him so he gave us free will to determine on our own whether or not to humble ourselves before him, and ask.
If your home, relationships, or life in general are in need of peace, love, joy, and comfort – you don’t have to sit and problem solve your way to perfection in these areas. All you have to do is sit and ask our Heavenly Father. He sees the stress and mess. He sees the space where you keep failing, and He says, “If only she would do what I have asked her to do. – if only she would ask Me.”
I wonder today if you would be willing to take this next step with me?
Our third step in surrender is to ask. We’ve already admitted our imperfection, we’ve acknowledged his control, and now today, we’re ready to humble ourselves at the foot of his throne and ask for help. This is a big step. This is the one we take with faith as we acknowledge that God is in control of all things, and that we can trust him to be in control of the areas where we keep failing. If you’re ready to ask him, then let’s go to the Throne of Grace together. Let’s sit at the feet of Jesus again, just as Mary did when she chose the good part – Let’s let go of the cares of this world as she did, the busyness, the air of perfection this world tells us to exude. Let’s grab hold of the good part – the part that won’t be taken from us.
Let’s make up our mind today to surrender and choose to ask, let’s – Choose Him.
Prayer
My Heavenly Father,
You are my Abba Father. The love I know in this world pales in comparison to your love for me. It’s amazing that in my imperfect state, you love me unconditionally. Thank you, God, for that truth. I acknowledge today my imperfection and my consistent need for you to reign in my home. Please forgive me for withholding my questions and not coming to you until now to ask for help. I don’t want to play games any longer. I’m ready now – I’m ready for you to have control of the things I’ve been trying to control myself. I need your powerful Spirit to rule over these areas and be all the things that I cannot. Lead me Lord. Help me to consciously allow you to control the things I can’t. I thank you in advance for hearing this prayer, and working this out for me. You are my source help. You are my strength when I am weak. You are my answer.
In Jesus’ name, I pray.
Amen.
Matthew 21:22, “And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
4 Steps to Surrender: Step 1 Admitting
4 Steps to Surrender: Step 2 Acknowledge
4 Steps to Surrender: Step 4 Allow
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