James 4:1-3 (NKJV) Pride Promotes Strife
Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
Do you ask for the things God desires for you? Not for the things you want but the things God wants for you.
I had an e mail from someone on behalf of someone else who is no longer able to receive my devotionals because of the volume of e mails they get. I don’t know what made me ask her (actually, it was the Spirit) but I sensed that she might like to receive them. The response was “Actually, YES! I didn’t dare ask.” She included the verse, “you have not because you ask not.” Isn’t that interesting? We know that we could ask but don’t. Why not? God wants us to be bold in our requests. He desires to bless us and yet we do not ask.
We go through life not getting things that would bless us and others around us because we do not ask for those things. You are a child of the Most High God. He has treasures stored up for you that are meant for your good. If He blesses you, chances are good those blessing will benefit those around you. It is like the H&R Block commercial with the warehouse of money just waiting for someone to claim it. Claim your blessings! Psalm 37:4 says “4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.” That does not mean God will give you anything you desire. It means God will place desires in your heart that are His will for you; things that are good for you. You will want what God wants for you. You will be following His path for your life. When you follow His will, you will be blessed! So ask God to give you the desires of your heart and believe, boldly, that He will answer!
What is Your will for us? What blessings have You stored up for us that we do not yet have? We know You have great plans for us. Please help us to be bold in asking for these blessings in Your name. Amen!