Ask, Believe, Receive (Part 1)

It's difficult for me to believe it today, but as a child in school, shy, embarrassed, and tongue-tied, I was reluctant to ask my teacher anything. My parents told me repeatedly, "If you don't ask, you won't get to know. If you don't ask, you won't receive anything." The more "grown up" I've become, the easier it is to see God's preparation in my earlier life for my life in Him today.

For Jesus, our Saviour, Shepherd, Teacher, Healer, and Lord, also encourages me, and all of His children, to ask: "Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for." (Matthew 7:7a NLT) and "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." (Mark 9:23 NKJV)

These familiar scriptures, along with the rest of God's word, are given to teach us that all things are possible to us if we believe. He has the power to do all that the holy scriptures tell us He can do. As we believe, we His people become inspired, changed in spirit, soul, and body. Jesus Himself exhorts us to ask, believe, receive.

Personally, I don't have any problem about asking Jesus anything. And I have no problem believing the whole word of God, all of it! Nor do I have any difficulty believing that all the things that Jesus says are possible, truly are possible.

1 Corinthians 12:7-9 – Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit. (NIV)

The faith to believe for a miracle or to believe God's promises and everything that is written in His word is a gift from God Himself. Without His gift of faith, we can do nothing. In my own life, as I use all God's gifts to me, including belief, He enlarges them within me, expanding me in fruitfulness and belief in Him.

Our belief/faith is never meant to be a competition. In God's eyes and heart, no one's belief or relationship with Him is inferior or superior among His beloved. He is perfectly gentle, never pushy or forceful in growing any of us. We mustn't be, either. Instead, individually, if we feel the lack of anything needful in God, from God, let's be free to ask Him, even for extra belief.

Mark 9:23-24 – Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" (NKJV)

We can't lose by asking, believing, receiving!

Prayer: We praise You, Lord, for Your every perfect gift. Thank You for the measure of belief You have given us. Thank You, that as we use the belief that we have, in Your honour and to Your glory, You can and do multiply more to us — even in huge measure for certain needs at certain times. You are the Master, Author, giver, keeper, and Lord of our belief/faith. Amen and Amen!

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