GOD IS WILLING

Friday March 7, 2014
Lent - Day 3

UNDERSTAND THAT GOD IS WILLING

You go to your friend's house, asking for food so you can feed your company.  Your friend doesn't want to go to the bother of getting up, so he tells you he can't get up now, that his children are sleeping, the door is locked, so... basically, go away!  But now that the children have woken up, and the dog is barking, and the chickens are fluttering around, he decides he may as well give you some food.  Not because he's your friend, don't go thinking that, but because he has no choice!

Jesus' story to His followers, which we can read in Luke 11, is one we sometimes think means that, because the man had no choice and the friend was uber-insistent, the man pretty much had to give his friend food.  Yes, that may be part of it - after all, if we think of prayer, if we persist God will give us what we ask.  Been there, heard that 2 blogs ago!  But there's more...  in Middle Eastern culture, it would be a loss of face if the friend refused to help, and so even if he didn't give food because of their friendship, he would do it in order not to lose face with the community.

Luke 11:8
[Jesus said] I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

You see, God is willing... and able... and sometimes, we just don't get that!  The author of "the prayer dare" states:

If a tired neighbour give you what you need, how much more will God, who never sleeps, give you?  Jesus said that, just as He prayed constantly and persistently, so should you pray, because GOD IS MORE THAN WILLING to meet your needs.

Remember something oh-so-important: when you pray, you are praying to a God who is more than willing to meet your need.  Your every need.  And... He is also able to meet your need.  Your every need.  So don't hold back - give it all, give it all, give it all to Jesus.  He is there, He cares, and He dares - dares us to ask.  So  do it.  Don't hold back.  He is willing and able, and so we needn't be afraid of bringing anything to Him!