Time Out
for God
Devotional
Ministry
By Danna
Appleby
Ask of Me
Recently, I was going through some of my prayer journals and
found a golden nugget. When I find a wonderful spiritual insight, I
call it a “golden nugget” and that’s just what I had found. This particular
golden nugget was something the Lord had shown me back in 2007 about asking
for what I need. It fit well with what I had already gleaned from
Scripture that day and a recent radio broadcast. The Scripture
was:
Ask of
Me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance, and the ends of the
earth for your possession. (Psalm 2:8)
At that time I was praying over my ministry for the upcoming
year and asking for God’s help so that was the Word He gave. I felt
like the Lord wanted me to ask Him for what I needed and He would surely
provide. There would be no end to what He would do to help me and I am
glad to say the Lord has been faithful to keep His promise.
Could it be that the windows of heaven are shut to many of the
blessings we would otherwise receive because we do not ask? Are the
windows opened to us and blessings poured out even more so when we ask?
I believe so!
I had a person to tell me one time that she never asked God for
anything, but Scripture tells us:
“. . .
you have not because you ask not.” (James 4:2)
Could it be that we go about our daily lives with sometimes
desperate needs but fail to ask God for what we need? Our situation may
seem hopeless, but what seems impossible in our eyes is always a possibility
in God’s. (Mark 9:23)
Jesus said it beautifully when He said:
So I say
to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and,
it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who
seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. (Luke 11:9-10)
Some years ago I was going through the worst trial I had ever
been through. Just this week as I was concentrating on the subject of
asking God for what we need, I questioned the Lord and said, “Father, what
was the main thing that brought me through?” I felt Him speak clearly to my spirit:
“You kept on knocking on heaven’s door.” I remember not giving up, but
kept knocking until I got my breakthrough! Did it happen
overnight? No, it sure didn’t, but I believed that God was going to
work things out. That trial has helped me with other trials since then
because my faith was strengthened.
When we’ve got a need, we don’t have to hesitate about knocking
on heaven’s door and asking our heavenly Father for help. If you have a
financial need, ask the Lord for help put food on the table for your family,
clothes on their backs and a roof over their heads. The Lord delights
in helping His children and knows what you need before you ask. All you
have to do is call out His name and ask.
Now to
Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think,
according to the power that works in us to Him be glory in the church by
Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)
As far as spiritual blessings, I believe we need to ask big. I
believe the closer you get to God the better so I want the best gifts God can
give. I want His favor and pray for His divine anointing to come upon
me in a mighty way so I can minister in my writing and singing. I’m
building a sure foundation based on the Rock of my salvation, Jesus Christ.
That foundation is not based on the physical, but on the
spiritual.
It came to me that I have not been asking God for the
miraculous. We have a very big God and He loves to help His
children. As long as we’re living an upright and devoted life before
the Lord, He will open the floodgates of Heaven to help us. There is
nothing He will not do to help those who ask.
Naturally, we must be careful what we ask for. We don’t
want to ask amiss and ask God to become a millionaire. We must remember that
God is not Santa Claus and doesn’t grant our every wish, but gives according
to His will. (James 4:3)
Years ago my Father was preaching a sermon and was telling about
my mother having to be in the hospital for some minor surgery. As the
time approached for her dismissal, he was concerned because he didn’t have
enough money to pay the bill. In those days, my father pastored a small
church and only had a small income so he sold advertising on the side. Dad
knew a businessman who previously had promised he would purchase an ad if he
would stop by. Dad said before he went to see the man he really sent up
a “red hot prayer” because he needed the Lord to help him sell the ad.
Afterwards, when Dad went to see the man he purchased $12.50 worth of
advertising. When Dad went to get my mother out of the hospital and pay
the bill, he asked how much he owed and the hospital worker said, “You owe
$12.50.”
I get a thrill out of that story every time I think of it
because it speaks of the amazing goodness of the Lord and how He never fails
to answer when we ask in faith believing that we will receive what we have
need of. I love the idea of Dad’s red hot prayer, but sometimes when
things go from bad to worse we have to send up what I call a “red hot chili
pepper prayer.”
When we just don’t know which way to turn, we better send up a
red hot chili pepper prayer because we need to hear from Heaven quick!
In those cases, we need to knock on that great big door of heaven and rely
upon the fact that God is listening to His little ones calling out His name
for what we need.
Father, thank you for every blessing
you pour out upon us. Thank you for the times you’ve heard us when
we’ve called out your name in prayer. Thank you that we can come to you
anytime day or night and knock on the door of heaven. When we offer up
a prayer of thanksgiving and praise and follow it by asking for what we need
you will answer. You’ve never let us down and you’re not about to
now. Thank you for helping us Lord! You are such an awesome God
and there is none other besides you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Be anxious for nothing, but in
everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests
be made known to God; and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and mind through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)
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