Ask For Anything

This is going to sound strange coming from someone who has grown up in a Christian home all her life, but this week, God has really been showing me that I can ask him for anything. So many times, I will give him a small request and then stress myself out with everything else.

The other day, I was stressing out about homework. Such a menial thing, I would not want to bother God with it. Then I was convicted: ask God for help. So I prayed a simple prayer - "God please help me with my homework. Amen." And then it worked like magic, right? No, the Holy Spirit was not done working on me. "What do you really want?" I could feel the question running through my head. I said to myself (subconsciously), "God would not answer that." But then the Holy Spirit showed me this insight in 1 John 5:14-15, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him."

At that moment, it hit me: there is not a thing that I cannot ask God for. It may not be in His will to give it to me, but I can still ask him. So, in that moment, I said, "Lord, I want to enjoy my homework, and actually get something out of it. And, while you are at it, could you please make me a tad smarter, so I can reduce my study time?"

I applied the principle in other things, and I realized more and more that that is what a healthy prayer-life looks like. I am not talking about a vending machine God, but a God who you can tell everything to - he already knows it. You talk to him; he talks to you. The communion between the Creator and his creatures is a mystery and a blessing. He may not give you what you ask for, but he promises to reward those who seek him. Someone who is truly in God's will will always get what they truly desire: more of Him.

"After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: 'Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.'" (Genesis 15:1) "So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6: 31-34)