Day 8: Did You Ask God for It?
Scripture
You do not have, because you do not ask.
James 4:2
Devotion
It seems like we have a daily conversation in our house where my wife or I function as a referee between two kids who are in the middle of a conflict over a toy. And as the temperature of the conflict continues to rise, we will intervene and ask this question: “Did you ask the other person nicely?” Then comes the stunning answer: “No.”
But really, all of us are this way. We want things that other people have (i.e. covet). We want the relationships that someone else has. We want the looks that someone else has. We want the success that someone else has. We want the job that someone else has.
We want things that other people have, and when we realize that we aren’t getting it we may respond in many different ways. Some of us feel hopeless because we think, “I’ll never have a life like that.” Others think I must work harder and longer to get what I really want. Some of us may gossip about that other person who has what we want and try to bring them down to our level.
James goes on to say that we may have a prayer problem (James 4:2), we may have a motive problem (James 4:3), or we may have a worldliness problem (James 4:4). But today, I want to zoom in on verse two and look at the prayer problem that he talks about. In verse 2, James says, “You do not have, because you do not ask.” Sometimes we haven’t received because we haven’t simply stopped and asked God for it. We didn’t take the time to pray. In other words, like my kids, when we are faced with the question, “Did you ask?,” we would have to say, “No.” This shows us the heart of God. He wants you to come to him as a child comes to a Father and ask him. Let us not get to the end of our lives and find out that we missed something in life simply because we didn’t ask God for it.
Application
Instead of complaining or coveting, pray! Come to your Heavenly Father today and simply ask him for what you need. And then you can trust him, knowing that he wants the best for you. He would only say, “No,” to a prayer if he has something better for you in mind. He’s a good Father. If you don’t have, don’t let it be because you didn’t ask. Ask God for it!
Prayer
Father, please help us to come to you with all of our needs today, knowing that you are a good Father who enjoys answering our prayers. And comfort us with the idea that whether you say “Yes,” “No,” or “Later” to our prayer, you will work together a plan that will be better than what we asked for. Help us to simply come to you and ask for the things we need today! Help us to trust that you will provide for our needs. Amen.