ASK WHAT I SHALL GIVE YOU

1 Kings 3:12
God appears to Solomon in the night and asks him what he wants. Not only did God grant him his request but far, far more. What would you ask God for if He came to you like that?
Would you ask God for your husband or children to be saved? Get out of debt? Have good health? Be more effective for God?
Did you know that He has offered us the same blessings through the promises of His eternal word? He has said to all His children, "Ask and it shall be given you, seek and you shall find, knock and the door shall be opened."

As I look back over my Christian life I see so many prayers that have been answered, but not always straight away. God's ways are not like ours. I recently shared this verse in Zechariah 9:9 that says. "Rejoice for God is coming - riding on a donkey." This means He often comes slowly and not as we would expect. There have been times when it seemed as if God didn't seem to care about what I asked Him for and didn't want to bless me.

Sometimes God lifts us high up on the mountain of experience and from there we see our goals and desires clearly ahead in the distance. We then have to go down into the valley and keep on heading in that general direction with nothing in sight but the leading of our hearts. All we have is a rough idea that it's up ahead. It's as if we have gone into the valley of the shadow of death, but He is still with us. It's here that our vision is tested and we grow.
We need to realise that God is more concerned about our faith and character development than answering our prayers straight away. If we got everything we asked for immediately we would become like spoiled brats. God will take ever opportunity that He can to change us and its normally through the things that we love. The bible says that He enlarges us in our distresses. Psalm 4:1 (KJV)

We all want to improve ourselves and grow in grace. Ask any weight lifter and he will tell you that if you want bigger muscles you need to increase the resistance that you are dealing with. You can't stay on a lightweight if you want to grow, there has to be something heavier to lift if you want your muscles to grow. God will allow bigger things to come our way and it depends on how we handle them as to our growth.

In the valley of the shadow of death we need to hold fast to that which we saw on the mountaintop earlier. We need to continue to believe even though all the signs have been taken away and we can't see our goal anymore. Remember what God said and fight for it.

What is it that you want from God? Why hasn't it come yet? I think we all need to ask ourselves about the part we can play in its fulfilment. Here are some thoughts.

1. You may want an unsaved loved one to come into the Kingdom. How have you been going about it? Are you nagging them to come to Church or to change their ways? I have heard the prayers of some who have wanted their loved one to come to God and when I've gone around to their place and seen how they treat them, I can see why those persons have hardened their hearts. Often the person that needs to change first is us. The problem with the Godless City of Nineveh wasn't the people but Jonah. When he got his act together Nineveh was saved. When we as a Church get our act together there will be a great harvest of souls. Most of us are blaming our circumstances, others and God, but maybe we are the ones who are the problem and need to change.
2. We may want to become a BMOG or a BWOG. (A big man or woman of God). Paul said that the way to the Spirit wasn't in our works but in our faith. Galatians 3:2 "This only would I learn of you, Received the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?" It comes by faith. The bible tells us that faith comes by hearing the word of God. Prayer can't give faith to us. "Faith COMES by hearing the word of God and in no other way."
3. We mustn't despise the day of small things. If you want to be a preacher then be prepared to take Sunday School first. Don't think that going to Bible College is easy either. There will be a price to pay. When my wife and I went to Bible College I had to leave a very good art job to go there, and we went with a small child to another country. I also had to work in the afternoons to make ends meet.
4. You may want to get out of debt, but haven't been giving to God of your tithes, because you have no money. If we don't give to God then He has nothing to work with. Even if you started by giving £1 God will honour that. I have found that when I have needed money, most of the time it has come through using the talents that God has given me. God has said. "What is that in your hand?"
5. Maybe you want to be healed and nothing is happening. There is a part that we can play in this as well. We need to look into God's word and see what He has to say about healing. "He sent His word and healed them." The bible also says, "A merry heart does good like a medicine." You must keep your sense of humour in this depressing world. Diet is also very important as our eating habits came be killing us. This generation is a bunch of Couch Potatoes. Even though the bible says that bodily exercise profits little, we still fall far short of how people used to live in Paul's day, as they walked everywhere. The men on the road to Emmaus walked 14 odd Ks to their home, saw Jesus and then ran back. When was the last time we walked 14 Ks let alone ran it?

God does answer our prayers, but we also need to play our part.