2 Chronicles 1:7 – On that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, "Ask! What shall I give you?" (NKJV)

1 John 3:22 – And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. (NKJV)

James 4:3 – You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. (NKJV)

Sometimes, something I've written and sent to the Daily Submissions Editor, with a request for consideration, comes back with a request for clarification or changes. And sometimes I challenge the request, because what I've written has seemed pretty straightforward to me. Straightforward, that is, until the Submissions Editor points out a few places where something could easily be misconstrued, or may pertain to something with which readers in other countries may not be familiar.

Multiply that by even a quarter of the writers, and it means a lot of extra work for all of us, and, no doubt, too, some frustrations all around.

One such recent incident reminded me of a parable, if you will, about a woman who complained to her priest that God never answered her prayers, in her wish to find a man and be married. She told the priest that she had prayed and prayed, but all God seemed to be sending her were married men. When the priest asked her what exactly she had been praying for, she replied that she had prayed fervently for God to send her a husband.

God has stated in many passages that we must ask for what we want. It is up to us to choose our words carefully in making our requests known, for, although He knows our every need, even before we ask, it is up to Him to decide whether or not what we have asked for is in our best interests to receive.

Prayer: All-knowing God, grant us patience in our petitions. Help us to take time to think about what we choose to pray for, and to ask accordingly. In times of distress, in our hour of deepest need, we know that You are with us, and, even then, You know our prayers before we even start to send them. Through Jesus Christ our Lord we pray. Amen.

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About the author:

Mary Daniel <marydee@shaw.ca>
Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
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