Thoughts for the Day

Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.

‘I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures, but will tell you plainly of the Father. On that day you will ask in my name. I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and am going to the Father.’

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Another of my mother's sayings was "Be careful what you ask for!" The story about King Midas comes to mind. The King is given supernatural powers by a satyr when he wishes that what he touches will turn to gold. Unfortunately his food and literally everything he touches does just that!

We see Jesus continuing to teach his disciples in the hours before his death. He says that he will not leave them alone; that the Holy Spirit will be with them; that the things they ask for from God in his name will be honoured; and ultimately that what they ask for they will receive. Many of us will have wrestled with questions about Jesus' statement "Ask, and you will receive". We remember the times that we’ve prayed for needs or desires and seen positive answers appear. But what about the times when that doesn't happen?

Through Jesus, we are reconciled to God, our Father, who is a good, loving, generous God who delights in giving good gifts to us His children.  As a child, if I had asked my mother for say, a jam doughnut with every meal she would have refused on the grounds that it would have been bad for me - too much sugar; I would have got fat; and my teeth would have suffered (not that doughnuts were around then!). Praying to God isn’t like filling out an online shopping form. We don’t expect that if we tick all the boxes we can suddenly receive all that we ask, especially if we’re asking unwisely or selfishly, as we sometimes do. Ultimately when we bring our requests to God, we need to trust in His wisdom whether His answers are yes, no, or wait.

As we grow in faith, and draw closer to Jesus, as we allow Him to purify our hearts, so our prayers will fall more in line with His will and His desires for our lives.

Lord Jesus,
as we draw closer to You,
may we learn to ask wisely,
not selfishly, for Your help.
Purify our minds from unworthy thoughts
so that we begin to make requests
that are more in line with Your intentions.
Amen.