Blank Check
I am so amazed when I read what Jesus says: “If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.” (John 14.14) This really challenges my faith. “Anything”….really? When I think about the “anything”, doubt begins to creep in. “Well, maybe not anything”, says my unbelieving heart. Then I begin to try to make a guess at what would be reasonable, or within the limits of my needs or what I perceive to be God’s will. But reason limits faith and faith is what pleases God. So, maybe what we need to do is just believe that “anything” means anything.
I heard a story about a king that asked three of his faithful servants to ask of him anything and he would grant it. The first servant, with marked humility, asked for one of his rings, knowing that it would be a great honor to own the king’s ring. The second servant, not knowing if he was being too bold, asked for the king’s horse. The third servant stepped forward and asked for half of his kingdom. The king smiled at the request of this third servant and said that with this servant he was truly pleased. The King was honored by the size of the request, knowing that only a great king could do such a thing. The first two servants dishonored him by asking so little, but the third servant honored his goodness and greatness.
I believe that what we think is humility is often a cover up for our unbelief. We have not because we ask not, and even when we ask, we ask amiss and so do not receive. (James 4.3) Ask in a way that would honor God. Ask BIG. In the Psalms we have an example of a big request: “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.” (Ps. 2.8) Wow, that’s big! God wants you to honor His greatness with the size of your request. Begin today by taking one of the big promises in the Scriptures and use it as a guide in prayer. For example, in the book of Joel, there is a promise that God would pour out His Spirit upon all flesh. (Joel 2.28) Ask the Lord for the outpouring of His Spirit in your nation. That revival would come to your church, your city and your country. Do you believe that is possible? Anything less is unbelief.
“Anything” reflects the goodness of God. God is so much more than any goodness that can be found in man. Because God is good, He wants you to enjoy your life. Just as a father or mother loves to see the smile and thrill on their child’s face when they receive a present, so much more the Heavenly Father desires to make our joy complete in giving to us what we desire. When my mother was pregnant with her fifth child, I so wanted this new addition to our family to be a boy. I had three sisters already, and just couldn’t think of having one more sister. I wanted a brother. I didn’t know to ask God, but I did ask my parents. They gave me no guarantees, so I added to my request a plan B. If it was a girl, then I wanted a monkey. This brought a smile to my parents’ faces, and would you know it, the baby was a girl. A real monkey, was not in their power to give me, but they bought me a stuffed toy monkey. Not the same as a real monkey, but it stayed with me for years.
Jesus said: “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Mat. 7.11) This is a blank check. God has signed His name and we are to fill in what we desire. Don’t waiver in unbelief. Ask Big! Our God is able to do anything.
Scriptures to meditate on:
I Tim. 6.17; Mat. 7.7-11; 21.22; Mark 11.24; John 14.13-14; 16.23-24; James 4.3