Ask.

If you have ever met me, you would know that I have a tendency of talking a lot.  About anything and everything, but mostly about God.  If you come to me with a situation, and sometimes even if you don't, I will offer the greatest truth that I know: Jesus loves you.  And from there, I will spend an exceptional amount of time describing this love and how your situation relates to a particular Bible character's or about God's grace and mercy and how it is evident in your life.  In fact, sometimes I think I would do more good if I would learn when to shut my mouth.  So if I've said it a million times in a million different ways and I'm afraid that I've become annoying, I'll just say, "You know what I'm going to say, so I won't even bother saying it.  But know that it's true."


Yesterday I received a letter from one of my best friends.  (Yes, I said letter.  We're old school.)  Within her letter, she had written a simple sentence that had caused me to smile.  She wrote, "Please don't tell me that I know what you're gonna say, because sometimes I need to hear it anyway."  She then acknowledged that it rhymed and giggled at herself, but I immediately thought that was pretty neat.  I may need to learn a few lessons in shutting my mouth, but I try my very hardest to speak nothing but the truth.  And apparently the truth needs to be heard.


Later that night, as I grew drowsy while laying in bed, I was talking to God.  I began listing things I needed and then listing things I wanted and then listing things I didn't understand.  I felt like I was just listing things like a maniac!  Sometimes you need to learn to shut your mouth, I reminded myself.  So I sighed and said, "Lord, You already know what's in my heart.  You already know what I'm going to ask, what I'm going to say.  This mechanical list I'm making for You must be the most boring thing You've experienced outside of church business meetings."


I turned over and shut my eyes and immediately thought of my friend's words.  Yes, God already knew what I was in need of and what I was going to ask Him for.  But I could imagine Him looking on me with love and saying, "Please don't tell me that I know what you're going to say, because sometimes I need to hear it anyway."  


An old Sunday School teacher of mine once told us a story that has always stuck with me.  She told of how, when she was a little girl, she had needed a new pair of shoes.  So she went to her daddy and told him what she needed.  Apparently, he thought the world of this little girl's actions.  He had known what she needed and was fully willing to get the shoes for her.  The fact that she had come to her daddy and asked him for what she needed proved that she trusted in his ability to provide for his daughter.  


When we go to the Father and ask Him for things, we are proving to Him that we trust in His ability to provide for us.  He doesn't want us to say, "You already know me and what I want.  Goodnight!"  He wants that communication with us because it establishes a relationship.  He already knows what you want, what you need, and what He's going to bless you with.  But the fact that you keep in constant communication with Him, even over the most mundane things, means everything to Him.  


Don't underestimate the Father's love for you.  Don't think that you can annoy Him with your requests.  Do not ask amiss; ask for all things according to God's will.  But the Bible says you have not because you ask not.  So don't be afraid to ask.