If God provides for the birds in the field, how much more does he love us? His gifts are for us to enjoy, and he rejoices when we come to him with our supplications.
However, is he nothing more than a pocketbook for material gain, ready to be snapped open whenever we feel the need arises? Or does he want more from us? As importantly, how does he feel when we ask for the wrong reasons?
When We Ask for God’s Direction:
There are times we face a blank wall, and the only place to turn is God. Judges 18:5 gives us the words to say. “Ask counsel, we pray, of God, that we may know whether our way which we go will be prosperous.”
When we have no idea what to do, when we face a blank wall, and the windows of heaven are closed, we can fall to our face before God, and he will give us direction.
When We Ask for Edification:
The Jews in the Old Testament knew they were a people set apart. When the Messiah came, his word was for those of like faith, and the gentiles were excluded.
In Acts a man named Cornelius had a vision and sent for Peter. We read in Chapter 10 and Verse 29 Peter’s question. “I came when I was sent for. I ask therefore why you sent for me.”
Peter received edification, for Verse 34 shows us his revelation. “Of a truth, I perceive that God is no respecter of persons.”
When we ask of God, he will reveal himself to us, for he wishes to be known to all men.
When We Ask for the Kingdom:
Matthew 7:7 is one of the prize scriptures of the New Testament. Here Jesus tells us that if we ask, the kingdom of heaven shall be given to us; if we seek, we will find the spiritual answers we search for; and if we knock, his blessings shall be opened to us. Then in 18:19, he says, “If any two shall agree on earth, it will be done by my Father in heaven.”
What does he desire most from us? A corporate body that is bound together in his love.
When We Ask for Spiritual Growth:
Zechariah was a mighty Old Testament prophet. In his words in Zechariah 10:1, we hear him admonish us to ask of Jehovah rain in the time of the latter rain.
If now is not the time of the latter rain, when is? God wants to shower his spirit on us, for our young men to dream dreams, and for our old men to have visions. When we ask for spiritual growth, God’s truth becomes a deluge.
As we can see from the scriptures, God is indeed a pocketbook God. We just have to know what’s in the pocketbook. When he opens the heavens, he showers us with leadership, edification, and the necessities of life.
When we understand how God sees our requests, we can expect him to answer our prayers.
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