Home
Email  |  My Account  |  Donate
john3 17 sidebox

ARTICLE

Easter, the Release of Our Fears!

AUDIO

What Happened on the Cross By Mark Hankins

VIDEO

Easter: Rescue

DEVOTIONAL

Today's featured devotional...
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
(Matt. 7:11, NKJV)
God is a good Father! He's more generous than the very best human father we could think of. The Lord is not a withholder. He's not stingy. He gives good things to those who ask! Let's get our mind renewed to this fact: God is love! Love gives. God is a giver. This is His very nature!

So, God is love and He gives good gifts – to whom? Jesus tells us – to those who ask! There is something about "asking" that God likes. The Lord wants us to ask Him for good things! James tells us that "...we have not because we ask not...." Perhaps "asking" puts us in a place of dependence on the Lord, rather than being self-sufficient or presumptuous. When we ask God for something, it's a humble acknowledgment that we are needy and He is our good and benevolent Father – willing to give us the things we desire.

Sadly, many people don't know much about God's willingness to answer our prayers generously! Even fewer seem to know how to cooperate with Him in faith, by asking! Some people feel guilty or selfish when they ask God for things. Don't! God wants us to ask for things according to His will!

Some people see God in a skewed light. They think He's a mean judge ready to slap them for everything – especially when they mess up. They think He's a taker. They think He's reluctant to give gifts. They think He's stingy. They think He's not fair. They almost view God as an abusive personality that gets mad if you ask for things, yet takes pleasure in causing tragedies, disease and suffering for innocent mankind. How sad that many people don't really know our Father's true character as revealed in the Word and as revealed through the life and ministry of Jesus!

So, let's squash three common misunderstandings about the Lord, prayer and asking...

Misunderstanding #1: Some people think, "Well, God knows what I'm going through and He'll just make sure all my needs are met." Not necessarily. He knows we need wisdom and a host of other things, but He wants us to ask before we receive those things.
…Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
(Matt. 6:2)
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
(James 1:5-8)
Misunderstanding #2: Some people think, "You can't just ask God for anything – only the spiritual things." Really? Jesus said you can! Yes, we can ask for whatever we desire – if we remain in Him and His Word. He said if we asked for anything according to His will we could have it. The way we discover His will and desire is by spending time in His Word. When we walk with Jesus, His will and His desires fill our heart. We might be surprised to find that the Lord will put all kinds of interesting and fulfilling desires in our hearts when we delight in Him. God promises to answer when we ask according to His Word!
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.
(John 15:7)

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of Him.
(1 John 5:14-15)
Misunderstanding #3: Some people think that if two or more come together in agreement, in Jesus' Name, that God will answer them. Not always. Two or more coming together in Jesus' Name is great – He's there in the midst. Getting into agreement is wonderful, but it's not enough! Jesus said: ask! The Father wants us to ask in Jesus' Name – don't assume – ask!
Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in My Name, there am I with them.
(Matt. 18:19-20)

In that day you will no longer ask Me anything. I tell you the truth, My Father will give you whatever you ask in My Name. Until now you have not asked for anything in My Name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
(John 16:23-24)
Get the idea? Today get your "ask" in gear! Spend some time in the Word and present your desires before the Lord – ask!

Say It: Father, I am going to spend some time in Your Word. I ask You to saturate my heart with Your Word and Your will. I have been negligent on 'asking' – so I am going to get busy 'asking' You for things! I believe You will be glorified and my joy will be complete! I thank You in advance for answering my 'asking.' In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Beth Jones Ministries
All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Author Select

Author/Speaker:        
login

Partner Letter


To sign up for cfaith's quarterly Partner Letter, click on the "Subscribe" button above.

Follow Us

twitter 32x32 facebook 32x32

About Us

The online ministry of cfaith has been helping people discover faith, friends and freedom in the Word since 2000. Cfaith provides a unique and comprehensive collection of faith-building resources for the worldwide faith community.

At cfaith, you can strengthen your faith and deepen your understanding of the Word of God by digging into the vast collection of teaching articles, streaming audio and video messages, and daily devotionals. No other website offers such a unique and extensive collection of spiritual-growth resources aimed at helping you grow in your knowledge of the Word.

Read More...

 

 

Support Us

Why support cfaith?


(All contributions are 100% tax deductible)


SUPPORT CFAITH WITH ONE CLICK!

For every Internet search you make using
goodsearch, cfaith will receive one penny!

GS Logo 250x38

Contact Us

Business Hours:


Monday—Friday: 9 a.m.—5 p.m. CST
Saturday & Sunday: Closed

Phone:

(763) 488-7800 or (800) 748-8107

Mailing Address: 

CFAITH.com
9201 75th Avenue North
Brooklyn Park, MN 55428

 

Login Form

Please ignore the “Secret Key” field; it is not needed to log in to cfaith.

Login Change Article

Spring360x442
You need to enable user registration from User Manager/Options in the backend of Joomla before this module will activate.