January 17 – Ask

Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. John 14:13-15 

Jesus tells us over and over. Ask…Even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you. John 11:22…all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive. Matthew 21:22. …So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Luke 11:9. John reminds us …and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. 1 John 3:22. Being obedient, like Jesus, is showing our love for Him by keeping His commandments. Love God with all our heart, soul, and mind—and love our neighbor as ourselves. Is that too hard to do? 

You may wonder sometimes why your prayers are not answered. James tells us to be careful how and why we ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. James 4:3. God isn’t in the “gimmie” business. We need to seek His will—and do it. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. Hebrews 10:36. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:17. Living forever is the ultimate goal, my ultimate goal. Living forever with Jesus…with God. That is as easy as saying, “Yes” to God’s gift of His Son. He is offering that “gift,” will you accept it?

Training Tip – Kids love jokes. Try to find some humorous ones about “asking” and use that as a beginning discussion on how, what and why we ask God for things in prayer. Here’s a couple of knock-knock jokes with which to start:

Knock Knock
Who's there?
Stopwatch!
Stopwatch who?
Stopwatch your doing right now!

Knock Knock
Who's there?
Stu!
Stu who?
Stu late to ask questions!

Lord – I want to live forever with You—that is why I chose to accept You as my Savior. May the Heavenly Father receive all the glory and honor due Him, because You were obedient…and now because we are obedient and keep Your commandments.

Happy Birthday—dear sweet Gladys. May God give you special blessings today!

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise noted.

© 2013 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.