Day 9--ask, ask, ask!

7 'Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.

8 Everyone who asks receives; everyone who searches finds; everyone who knocks will have the door opened.

9 Is there anyone among you who would hand his son a stone when he asked for bread?

10 Or would hand him a snake when he asked for a fish?

11 If you, then, evil as you are, know how to give your children what is good, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

MATTHEW 7:7-11

Pretty simple, right? Ask for things, God says!!! So then why won't He give us all we ask for??!?!?!?!? Like, come on, God, you promised!! Well, let's look at the comparison of parents and their children: would you give your kid a snake when he asks you for a fish? No? Well would you give him a snake if he asked you for a snake? Or a bomb if he asked you for a bomb? OKAY THEN!

See, God tells us to ask him for anything but He will give us GOOD THINGS. Not the definition of "good things" that the world has... but truly good things: love, joy, patience, justice, temperance, strength, courage. If you are praying for something that will push you further away from God, he probably won't give it to you.

Remember, God knows what you need. Also remember: God's timing is perfect. It might not look like that at the moment when you are desperately clamoring to Him... but just hang on. Keep asking. Keep praying. Trust him.

Oh Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You.

Don't cease to ask. But don't obsess over things either-- let Him surprise you! And--here's something that works wonders for me-- if you ask Him but ultimately leave it all to His will... if you say "God let it be as you wish" then He will give you whatever it is that you need in order to follow His will.

I know we doubt and we despair and we get frustrated about not having control--hey, I've been there, I'm that person, the control-freak. So let's pray that we may not only believe in God but believe God: believe that He will do what is best for us!

So help my unbelief, Lord.