Ask

God is a mind reader. He knows what we think even before we think it! So that makes me wonder at verses like in Luke 11 "Ask, and it will be given you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."

Why, if God knows our needs and our thoughts, should we have to ask for anything. Shouldn't He just know and provide for us at the moment we need it?

I think if that were the case we would probably just take God and everything he does for us for granted. Maybe we wouldn't believe in Him at all. God does a lot of things for us without us asking - He keeps the sun coming up and our hearts beating. But for many things He wants us to be an active participant in the process.

And I think there is something about coming before the Lord - recognizing that we are weak and He is strong, we are unable to provide and He is able - that helps us sort out our own problems with flesh and self determination.

But there's something beyond that too I think. In that chapter Jesus tells the story of a man banging on the door to get bread from his neighbor. Now - I don't subscribe to the "storm the gates of heaven" mentality - as I mentioned in a previous post we should always season our prayers with "thy will be done."

However - I think God wants us to be bold in our prayers, and consistent in asking. Here's the key - is what your asking going to bring glory to God or satisfaction to you? If the former, ask away and keep asking! If the latter - keep praying, but look out for God to re-shape your prayer.