It has always been one of those verses and proverbs that perplexes me. Ask and you shall receive. It seems so simple, yet so hard.Yes, you can ask Him. You can pray and even beg for Him to heal you, take away your fear and pain. This phrase, this theme appears over and over again in the Bible:
Mark 11:24 - Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive [them], and ye shall have [them].
Matthew 7:7 - Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
James 4:3 - Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume [it] upon your lusts.
Matthew 7:7-11 - Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Matthew 7:1-29 - Judge not, that ye be not judged.
Luke 18:1-8 - And he spake a parable unto them [to this end], that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
Luke 11:13 - If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall [your] heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
Luke 11:1-54 - And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
Matthew 7:11 - 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?
John 16:1-33 - These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.
Matthew 7:23 - And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
He wants us to ask, but who should we ask? Yes we should ask Him, but its more than that. Its asking of others. Its trusting in others to help you. Asking you friends and family to pray for you, with you, around you. It's opening up to those you love and letting them in. When you open yourself up to the glory of the love of others, then you are open to the love and healing power and grace of God.
This is something I have struggled with. Sure I can speak about my family past troubles and struggles with domestic violence, but when it comes to sharing the most intimate of my feelings, the everyday ones with others, I revolt. I close up and personify "Im OK."
I have learned that this verse means to ask for prayers from not only Him, but your brothers and sisters who are there to lift you up and help bare the burdens you carry. Ask and you shall receive.
OH FRIEND, I needed these today....
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I have SUCH a hard time feeling like I can ask God for the things I want and need. For me, I think it's a trust issue. I'm a complete control freak and worry that if I ask and don't get what I want, the way that I want it, I will be disappointed. When really, God already knows our wants and needs and has plans to provide for them. This is something I have to work on daily (along with my tendency to stress out!)
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