ASK

A Word of Encouragement

My brother-in-law once asked me a question he had for a college homework assignment. "Who was the wisest man in the Bible?" he asked. I thought about for a moment as names of biblical figures ran through my head. It seemed like a tall order to fill.

"In the WHOLE Bible? I don't know." I responded. It seemed like a silly question. How could we pick just one?

Then - like a lightbulb going off - all of a sudden I knew the answer, "Solomon! The answer is Solomon. The Bible says that he was the wisest man who ever lived."


Then my brother asked, "Okay. Why is he the wisest?"

"Because he asked God for wisdom." I said.

My brother-in-law looked at me as if I was one short of a dozen. He clearly thought I was trying to trick him. I couldn't possibly be telling the full story. "That's it?" he asked. "Yeah." I said, "He asked God for wisdom and God was so pleased he didn't ask for material wealth that God made him wiser than any other."

Even as I answered him, I was stunned by how simple that was. We often correlate achievements and honors with striving, working, growing, learning, achieving... But Solomon asked God. How long will it take us to stop running around doing and trying until we just turn to God and ask?

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." Matthew 7:7-8

Part of the inheritance of the saints is access to the throne of God where we find His heart. Because of His love for us, He says that all we have to do is ask. Yet, just like Solomon's example, God wants us to seek after the things which are above.

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed." James 1:5-6

Many are searching, longing to know and serve God. All you have to do is ask. Come boldly before the throne and make known your petitions to the Lord. God makes Himself available and reveals Himself to those who seek Him sincerely.

"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." Matthew 5:6

Yet, God is not some genie. A slot machine who doles out prizes upon request like some in the word of faith would have us to believe. We must ask according to His will and with the right motivations.

"Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts." James 4:2-3

"And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him." I John 5:14-15

"And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, That we should the name of his Son believe on Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment." I John 3:22-23

As you go forward in the Lord today, remember that He is a God who cares. He is a Father who has adopted you as His own and has blessed you with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places. He stands there waiting for you to ask in faith.

There is a book by Derek Prince called, "Secrets of a Prayer Warrior". If you are looking to strengthen your prayer life or just want to better understand the purpose of prayer in the life of a believer, I would highly recommend this resource.

Be blessed this day in the Lord. I pray that you be covered in His mercy, joy and love so that you are refreshed and others may see Him in you!

May this song below birth in your hearts a yearning for that fellowship and rest found in prayer with Him today.