When Jesus teaches us to pray as in Luke’s account, He adds the idea of asking for needs.
“3Give us each day our daily bread,…5And he said to them, ‘Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, “Friend, lend me three loaves, 6for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him”;’” — Luke 11:3 & 5 (ESV)
Clearly, we should be asking for our needs to be met, and notice as Jesus says, ask for the “daily bread” and not enough to store up for later. I have to remember that God will provide that which is needed in the moment and I will then move on to the next moment where I will rely on God to provide in that moment. In verses 5-6 above, Jesus is showing that we should ask when we need. As noted in the rest of the lesson in this passage, the friend will provide what he can regardless of the time or circumstance.
“13If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” – Luke 11:13 (ESV)
Now, if a friend will provide the basic need in the moment, what more will God provide. As God is more vested in me than just my friend and God is with me always. I have to remember that when there is a need I have, I should ask God to fill it. I have to remember that God will not allow for me to go without my needs and will fill them in the moment, every time.
“25Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” – Matthew 6:25-26 (ESV)
Knowing that I have all that I need and will always have all that I need, gives me the chance to simply get on with things. When I find myself in need, I simply need to ask and allow God to fill the need. I have to remember that His filling of my need may not be what I “want” rather He will fill it with what I “need”. I have to remember contentment in all that God provides and be fully grateful for those provisions.
What are your expectations of fulfillment of you needs? Are you just expecting God to give you all you want for now and the future? What if you remembered that you need to ask for your needs to be met and that will be in the moment and not for the storing up for later?
Trevor's Thoughts 