Asking

To ask or not to ask?
That is the question.

There’s no harm in asking, so they say.
But what do you ask?
Why do you ask?
When do you ask?
Whom do you ask?
How do you ask?
These are the questions.

What if you asked but received not?
What if you asked but received all you asked for?
What if you asked but received less than you asked for?
What if you asked but received more than you asked for?
What if you asked but received something else?
What would your response be to each of these scenarios?
Would you be inclined to say, ‘Thank you’, regardless of the outcome?
These are the questions.

We have a God of Providence
The ultimate Benefactor, Giver, and Carer
He is the One to ask
Because if He is on the case, the outcome is assured. 

Out of the abundance of His wisdom
He decides who to give to
He decides what to give
He decides when to give
He decides how much to give
He decides how to give
He decides when to withhold 

He does not give to us on the basis of our righteousness
Because we’ve none to lay claim to
Neither does He withhold from us because of our unrighteousness
Because He is longsuffering and understands our human frame and frailty.
Rather He gives out of the abundance of His covenant of grace and love.  

He gives to me, so I can share with you
He gives to you, so you can share with others
Thus, making each one of us an agent of the dispersal of His abundant grace and love
The more we cheerfully share, the more we cheerfully receive from Him
With prayer-mindedness and faith, we ask, we receive, and we share.