Do you ever feel like it’s pointless to pray and ask God for something because He already knows what you need?

Most of us feel like that at least some of the time.

Recently I read this little exchange between Digory and Fledge and Polly.

It was an Ah Ha! moment for me.

“I am hungry,” said Digory.

“Well, tuck in,” said Fledge, taking a big mouthful of grass.

Then he raised his head, still chewing and with bits of grass sticking out on each side of his mouth like whiskers, and said, “Come on, you two. Don’t be shy. There’s plenty for us all.”

“But we can’t eat grass,” said Digory.

“H’m, h’m,” said Fledge, speaking with his mouth full. “Well—h’m— don’t know quite what you’ll do then. Very good grass too.”

Polly and Digory stared at one another in dismay.

“Well, I do think someone might have arranged about our meals,” said Digory.

“I’m sure Aslan would have, if you’d asked him,” said Fledge.

“Wouldn’t he know without being asked?” said Polly.

“I’ve no doubt he would,” said the Horse (still with his mouth full). “But I’ve a sort of idea he likes to be asked.”

From The Magician’s Nephew – Copyright © 1955 by C. S. Lewis Pte., Ltd. Copyright renewed © 1983 by C. S. Lewis Pte. Ltd. All rights reserved.

(If you’re not familiar with the Chronicles of Narnia you might not be aware that Aslan is an allegorical character.  He’s a GREAT lion and represents Christ in the series.)

Have you ever thought…
“But I’ve a sort of idea he likes to be asked.”

It can be pretty humbling to think that God likes 

to be asked to meet your needs.

I’ve talked with friends who hesitate to ask God for things.

The reason given is that God is “so busy with other more important things” they don’t want to “bother Him.”

We’re about to discover, that line of thinking is so very far from the truth.

We know that prayer is much more than asking God for a litany of things.

Prayer is so important, Jesus actually taught the disciples (and us) how to pray.

This prayer He taught us we refer to as the Lord’s prayer…

Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

“This is how you should pray: 

Our Father in heaven, let your name be kept holy.
Let your kingdom come.
Let your will be done on earth as it is done in heaven.
Give us our daily bread today.
Forgive us as we forgive others.
Don’t allow us to be tempted. Instead, rescue us from the evil one.  Matthew 6:8-13 GW

This prayer shows us to acknowledge God and His holiness and greatness.  To seek His purpose and ways before our own. To ask for our everyday provisions. To forgive and to seek forgiveness. And to be protected from evil.

Right there in the middle of the prayer we have been directed to ask God to meet our needs for today.  Not tomorrow.

It’s clear to me that God expects us to ask HIM to meet our daily needs.

So… if you’re someone who feels that you’re not important or God has bigger stuff to do… maybe this will help you realize that you and your needs… are important to God.

When Jesus was walking the countryside, teaching His disciples, the religious leaders, and the common folks, He had this to say…

So I tell you, ask, and God will give to you.
Luke 11:9

In the Amplified Version of the Bible, those words of Jesus are stated this way…

Keep on asking and it will be given you; …
For everyone who keeps on asking receives;
Matthew 7:7-8

This is an encouragement for you to ask… and keep asking.  

It’s interesting to me that Jesus says we need to keep asking.  At first I thought maybe it is because we will be just as needy for God’s help tomorrow as we are today and He is most glorified when we are totally dependent upon Him.

Though that is true… it’s the continuous asking that “receives.”

For everyone who keeps on asking receives;

It requires faith to keep asking.

Along with that faith… we keep our eyes fixed on the Lord.

God wants us to be seeking and believing and expecting Him to be our provider.  Not you (or me).

There is another reason Jesus wants us to ask….

Until now you have not asked for anything in my name.
Ask and you will receive, so that your joy will be the fullest possible joy.
John 16:24

For our joy.  The fullest possible joy!

God delights in our delight.

Doesn’t that encourage you to ask and keep asking for Him to meet your needs?

It’s so easy to go to through the day worrying about your family, your job, your finances, your health, the condition of the world, and more.  Just reading those words might have gotten you on the worry track.  Yes?

Worry is a common human condition.  The early Christians worried, too.  So much so that the apostle Paul penned these words in his letter to the Christians in Philippi.

Do not worry about anything, but pray
and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks.
Philippians 4:6 

There it is again.

Ask.

God wants you to ask HIM for everything you need.

He doesn’t want you to worry and fret or try to figure out things on your own.

Instead He wants you to banish worry from your mind… ask Him for every need you have… and give thanks.

The thanks isn’t like sending your grandma a note telling her thanks for the lovely gift she gave you for your birthday.  No.  Instead.  It’s like telling your grandma thanks for the gift, even before she sent it, not knowing if she would send it.

God wants us to believe and expect that He WILL meet our needs… so we thank Him in faith for what He will do.

What is it that you need?

Ask!

Ask the Father in Jesus’ Name with expectation.

There is one more thing.  God is not a vending machine where we put in an Ask coin and out comes the item we desire.  Instead… we must live in faith believing that God is working all things together for our good (Romans 8:28). And what we think is good might not be the best.

That’s where trust comes into the picture.

Trust the Lord with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5

God loves you with an incredible amazing love.

It is His delight to have you bring your needs to him…. so ask away!

When we do… it eliminates the need for worry.

And the best part…. it brings us JOY!

Ask and you will receive,
so that your joy will be the fullest possible joy.
John 16:24

Who doesn’t want more joy?!

I sure do!

Speaking of joy….

It’s JoyDay!

I’m so glad you’re here to join me for JoyDay!  There isn’t anything better than each of us sharing the good things God has done in our lives this week.  Both in the happy and the challenges.

Will you join with me in counting ‘seven’ from the past week?

I’ll start!

Thank you God for…

1. getting to see a dear friend I haven’t seen in a year.
2. a glorious morning walking the beach with my husband.
3. not having any serious injuries from a hard fall.
4. your love, faithfulness, and care.
5. knowing you have a plan ahead when I can’t see the way.
6. Your delight in my bringing my needs to you.
7. the big lake and your glorious creation.

Now  it’s your turn!

Please join me by tapping in your ‘seven’ in the ‘share your extraordinary thoughts’ section below. I dare you!

Thank you for stopping by and taking time to leave your sweet thoughts.

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