STOP, listen, and obey

Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8)

Keep on - this certainly implies that we ask at least once, doesn't it? What we ask for is probably as important as how many times we are willing to ask for it, isn't it? James put it this way: "...you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure." (James 4:3) We might just be asking for what we don't really need, but it seems we keep on asking, don't we? When it is something we really, really need, like to turn away from bitterness or regret, we sometimes ask once, figure it didn't work, and keep on acting the same. 

Ask God - then be prepared for the answer. The answer may not come in the timing or the 'form' we expected, but God has set about to answer each time you and I ask. Ask 'amiss' for things that are selfish or not good for us to pursue and we may be disappointed with the answer. God may actually tell us to 'stop', listen, and obey in a completely 'different direction' than we intended when we asked. Are we willing to ask anyway? If we are, we are moving in the right direction because we are more committed to obedience than we are comfort. If we aren't, it is time for us to have a serious revisit with our commitment to the plans and purposes of God for our lives!

What gives us pleasure is not always God's best for our lives. I like to eat and find much pleasure in a good meal or sweet snack, but the pounds soon go on when I over-indulge my fancies! My 'fancies' may not be the best thing for me. Whenever God shows us that the path we are about to pursue is not good for us, we have one of two choices - go with our own plan, or listen to his urging to 'stop', listen, and obey. The 'stop' is hardest but so necessary because it sets us up to actually listen and until we listen, we have zero chances of obeying as we should. Just sayin!