Scripture:  John 16:24  "Until now you have not asked for anything in My Name.  Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete."

God loves communion and wants interaction with His people.  He could move us around and do as He pleases just as a chess player does with a pawn on a chessboard, but God has entrusted to us our own will.  He would like for our wills to be submitted to Him, but He does not force it upon us.  He has graciously granted us freedom to do as we please.  When we exercise our will and express our choice in words and actions, He responds.

 

Jesus told His followers, "Until now you have not asked for anything in My Name."  He wanted them to express their need to Him and ask for their provisions.  If you are in situations today and wondering why your needs are not met, could Jesus respond to you with the same words, "So far, you have not asked for anything in My Name"?  We often have thoughts concerning our needs but do not verbalize them into prayer because we may think that our needs are too big or too small.  Many blessings are missed simply because we fail to ask.  We just wait for God to read our minds and so nothing happens.  Consider a few of the promises of a response from God that are expressed in these scriptures:

 

Matt. 21:22  - "Whatsoever you shall ask in prayer believing, you shall

                         receive."

James 1:5   - "If you need wisdom, ask God ... and He will give it to you."

James 4:8   - "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you."

James 5:14 - "Is there any sick among you?  Let him call for the elders

                         of the church and let them pray over him ...

                         and the prayer of faith shall save the sick"

Luke 11:9    - "Ask, and it shall be given to you;

                        Seek, and you shall find;

                        Knock, and it shall be opened to you."

 

If you need or desire anything, whether it be wisdom, healing, or finances, don't just think about it or talk to others about it, but express your need to the Lord.  He is listening and your words of prayer will evoke a response on God's part.  And as Jesus said, “When you ask and receive, then your joy will be complete.” +++