Blogger: Paul Smoot
Matthew 7: 7 -
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
Observations/Application:
The "it" used to mean something different to me and sometimes I found disappointment when "it" wasn't given. "It" can be "anything", and though God can certainly give and do anything, I now see "it" from a different view. "It" does not mean to me anymore, "ask for anything and it will be given to me". I do believe that there are times when God does that, but more and more I see that all good things come from Him through His gifts of the spirit.
I now hear this verse as saying "Ask and wisdom; Ask and a loving heart; Ask and grace and mercy; Ask and His spirit to dwell in and shine through me; Ask and a deeper relationship with Him; will be given to me." I have experienced over and over again that when this happens first, wonderful "anythings" often follow.
Many times God may not give me the exact "its" that I want, but instead, He may change my heart about what "its" I want. Those "its", He always gives me freely and without fail. When I pray, I want to pray for the fruits of the spirit first, and as I accept those fruits from Him, He will allow me good things to follow...just as He promises. First, I must ask that my heart and spirit are right with Him.
Prayer:
Father, allow me to look past my own worldly desires and yearn from my heart for those gifts that align with Your desires for me first. You have shown me again and again that you freely give of those, and when that happens, You do amazing and wonderful things for me...greater than I could have ever imagined for myself. Please allow me to be aligned with Your desires for me and to shine a light to Your glory. In Jesus' name.
Paul and his wife, Ali, moved to South Florida in 2004. They were the catalyst for The Pursuit CC coming to fruition. They lead a community group in their home on Tuesday nights.
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