“You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” – James 4:2-3

“And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” – John 14:13-14

I have trouble asking for things in my life. I have perfectionist tendencies, and was raised to believe that I can do things on my own, because I am strong and smart and I don’t need to ask other people for help.

So often this spills over into my relationship with Jesus.

Satan knows this, and when I read the verses above, he is quick to point out that those kinds of thoughts sound dangerously close to a name it and claim it type of gospel, where you ask God for a new shiny boat or a helicopter, or a ten million dollar house, and expect Him to show up with it. Satan tries to get into my head and convince me that I shouldn’t be asking before I even start to ask for anything.

You see, we have an enemy who is very real, and who knows our weaknesses. The Bible says he roams around the earth like a lion looking to kill and steal and destroy. He knows that I’m already a child of God, and he can’t kill me forever, so he works to steal my joy, and my kill my relationship with my Savior, and to destroy my effectiveness for His kingdom.

So, when I have a need, Satan convinces me that I should be the one to meet that need. That I need to just work a little harder, get up a little earlier, and plan a little more thoroughly.

And so often, I believe him.

But that’s not what Jesus said to do, it’s not what God longs for us to do. He wants us to come to Him, like the little children that we are to Him, and He wants us to ask for what we need.

Luke 11:9-13 says, “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, the one who seeks, finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will you give him a scorpion? If you then. who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

Our God knows how to give good gifts. And if you read the verses above, the very best gift that He gives us is the Holy Spirit. When we ask for things, that’s what He gives us. His own power, manifested in the Holy Spirit, and empowered to live within us.

Sometimes we ask for more money, or a child, or a job or a husband or a new house. But God hears our request, and gets straight down to the heart of what we really need; more of Him.

I’m struggling with my job. Recently I was reminded that it’s something I needed to be praying about. (I know right? How often do I get so busy and bogged down in the details of life, trying to make it happen on my own, when really all I need to do is ASK!)

I’ve been praying that the Lord would give me a way to replace my income. I’d love to be able to leave my job by this summer. That seems like an impossible timeline though when I look at the calendar. It’s only a few weeks away, and I’m really far behind at work. I’d love to have it all caught up before I roll out and pass off all of that unfinished nonsense to the next person. It’s not a lot of time to have a full income replaced (it’s only about a month away). But, God has been reminding me that He’s a God of the details. My mission right now is to spend time here, getting to know Him. Being given more of His presence and His provision and being able to trust that He will show up and provide for my needs, right on time.

When I asked Him what I should be doing to get a jump start on replacing my income, His answer was simple.

Just write.

Write what, Lord? I don’t have anything useful to say to anyone! I’m just a regular mom in the middle of the south who gets her words wrong and hasn’t taught her kids to tie their shoes and who fails every single day at something. Lord, should I plan out some blog posts, ask to write guest articles for someone somewhere, should I start checking analytics or turning on ads or trying to monetize something?! We don’t have a lot of time, I need the details and I need to PLAN!

Just write. When you show up and put your hands on the keys I’ll give you what to say. Your job is just to show up. I’ll provide for you like I did for my people in the wilderness, like I did for Elijah at the brook; one meal at a time.