Monday, December 19, 2011

Instead of Worrying, Ask

As I was worrying through my prayer time this morning, God so graciously reminded me that the antidote to worry is to ask, to ask in prayer, to ask with thanksgiving. His promises are so generous and kind. Daily bread, wisdom, forgiveness, intercession, love--all these and more He promises, but He does invite us to ask.


What man among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
~Matthew 7:9-11, HCSB


Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him. ~James 1:5, HCSB


What then are we to say about these things?
If God is for us, who is against us?
He did not even spare His own Son,
but offered Him up for us all;
how will He not also with Him grant us everything?
~Romans 8:31-32, HCSB

Who can bring an accusation against God's elect?
God is the One who justifies.
Who is the one who condemns?
Christ Jesus is the One who died, but even more, has been raised;
He also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.
~Romans 8:33-34, HCSB



Who can separate us from the love of Christ?
Can affliction or anguish or persecution
or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

No, in all these things we are more than victorious
through Him who loved us.
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life,
nor angels nor rulers,
nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing
will have the power to separate us
from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!
~Romans 8:35,37-39, HCSB

Come and survey your Father's storehouse, and ask whether he will let you starve while he has laid up so great an abundance in his garner? Look at his heart of mercy; see if that can ever prove unkind! Look at his inscrutable wisdom; see if that will ever be at fault. Above all, look up to Jesus Christ your Intercessor, and ask yourself, while he pleads, can your Father deal ungraciously with you? If he remembers even sparrows, will he forget one of the least of his poor children? 'Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he will sustain thee. He will never suffer the righteous to be moved'" (C.H. Spurgeon, Morning and Evening for this morning).

Giving thanks once again to the Giver of all good gifts, #2454-2469)...
Jesus, the best Gift of all
God's gentleness even in correcting me
Two hugs from an unexpected encounter with our little neighbor when I asked the Father to send me one today
Gifts wrapped and tucked beneath the tree
Disappointments for loved ones and
Inability to fix their circumstances myself
A family friend's courage to choose truth
Christmas cards from old friends
Real mail from online friends :)
Emailed prayers
Grace words in text messages
New haircut possibly salvaging Romans 7 hair decade year (You know, Romans 7:15.  The good that I would [it] will not do, and the evil that I would not, that [it] does.)
Good lab results for friends
Middle-of-the-night grace, a Helper who does not slumber or sleep (Psalm 121)
Husband home all weekend
Help to make one batch of toffee (with some to send to my Nonni)





4 comments:

  1. the Word of God is always like water to a thirsty me ~ thank you for the the good drinks here: ask, ask, ask. Needed to remember that in everything. Real mail is such a happy thing:) Lifting you up, friend.

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  2. Thank you for stopping by my blog today, and for your prayers! I so appreciate it. And yes, He promises to give us all good things, if we would ask! I am asking today, for His heart and His will in my circumstances.

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  3. I really needed this today... to remember to "ask".

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Thank you for sharing your day with me! Your presence here is a gift. *You* are a gift. Right now I am unable to reply to every comment, but please know I read and pray for each and every commenter. Grace and peace to you in Christ.