“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:17 KJV

I have never in my life encountered a child who truly wanted something from their father or mother, and decided to ask for it in a halfhearted and roundabout manner. How would a conversation like that go I wonder. “Dad, can I have such and such? It doesn’t have to be the best one, I’ll take whatever you give me, and if I don’t get it, that’s all right too.” Can you imagine a realistic conversation like that? Neither can I.

Even when we were kids, we’d put our all into asking for what we wanted, remember? We didn’t hesitate or beat around the bush, we went all the way with our requests, adding pretty pleases and all if we had to, just to make sure we got what we wanted.

So why then, do we sometimes go before the Lord with trembling knees and vague requests? When He loves us more than any earthly father ever can, and can bless and provide for us far more than any earthly parent ever can. “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” Matthew 7:11 KJV. See, it’s right there in the Bible, in red, in Jesus’ own words.

But somehow, there seems to be a sort of disconnect when it comes to asking the Lord for the things that we desire. For one thing, I think some of us figure we’re simply asking too much, or burdening Him with our requests. After all, we just asked Him to heal our sick child last week, and to bless and stretch our finances a few days ago, and now here we are again on Sunday morning, coming to him with yet another request. Surely He must be tired of us asking and asking.

We know in our hearts that this is not true. We could never “use up” our quota of prayer requests because, well, there is no quota or special allotment to begin with. But the devil will prey on our thoughts when we’re the most vulnerable, to get us to think this way; and it’s the reason why we need to know Scripture, so we can combat him when he comes with those lies.

Also, there is sometimes the feeling of not being worthy or deserving. But brethren, if the blessings and gifts of God were based on our own merit or goodness we would never, none of us, get anything from Him, since we are nothing in ourselves, and it’s only because of Him we are who we are in Christ Jesus. So we need to get our feelings out of the way and ask the Lord boldly just like the Bible says. Without guilt, or fear of reproach, because He promises to supply our every need if we do. Not some of them, all. “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 KJV

Our Heavenly Father desires to give us good gifts, the Bible is filled with Scripture that says just that, but it’s no good if we don’t truly believe it. He wants us to bring to Him the needs that we carry from day to day, the big ones, and the small ones we believe we can handle ourselves, because He cares about them all. It’s His desire to give us good things because He loves us, and the way we feel about it does not change that fact.

So today, whether you’re feeling a little down in the dumps and less than deserving (as we all feel from time to time); or you have that whole quota thing going on in your head, where you feel like you’ve asked for more than your fair share of blessings recently, shake it off because it is not true and it is not Scriptural. Your Heavenly Father delights in giving His children good gifts, and that means you. ❤️

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“And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” 1John 5:15 KJV

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.” Psalm 84:11 KJV

 “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” Matthew 21:22 KJV

“When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things.” Psalm 104:28 NIV

“The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.” Psalm 34:10 KJV