There are those in the church today who would argue that seeking God and asking him for things is sinful. They say that we should want nothing, that we should allow our Heavenly Father to give us only what He desires to give us, not what we want.
To those I would suggest thinking on a small child. Think of a little four-year old girl walking the aisles of a toy store. She sees so many wonderful toys, in a dizzying array of colors and styles. Toy after toy- all designed to entice her to want to play with them. Her eyes alight on the most beautiful little doll- cherub-like, with beautiful blue eyes and golden curls. The little girl's breath catches as she takes in this wonderful doll, and she realizes that more than anything, she'd like to take this baby doll home with her and care for it, play with it, and make it her new best friend. She turns to look at her mom who is following behind her. With eyes as large as saucers she looks up and quietly asks if they could purchase this doll.
Instead of looking at her daughter with love and saying yes, Mom quickly fills with anger. She grabs her daughter by the arm and tells her that she is shameful. How dare she be sinful and desire this baby doll. How dare she ask to buy this doll- she should have known better and simply looked upon these toys with no desire in her heart. Mom angrily removes the daughter from the toy store, muttering about repentance and correcting such bad behavior.
Sounds a little crazy doesn't it? But isn't that exactly what these people are saying about desiring the good things from God? Our God is an amazing Father who desires all good things for His children- and I believe he delights when we ask for them. Just think on that little girl again. As a mom, I've been there many times before. I've been in the toy store with my children when they find that one special toy and ask gently if it might be possible. I never got angry or upset, in fact, my heart would fill with joy for them as I told them yes, and watched with delight as they picked up this toy and carried it around the store with beaming faces.
God wants us to desire His gifts and His goodness. And He has so many of them! The Bible is chock-full and packed with gifts and secrets that are there only for the asking.
I don't go to the store and buy an amazing assortment of fresh fruit, only to put them in a bowl for display. And when my children crowd around the bowl, eyes and mouths watering for the sweet goodness in front of them, I don't tell them no. I don't say "Look only, that fruit is on display and not for you."
"Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!" Psalm 34:8
God's fruit is for us, and readily available at any time even. We don't have to wait for Him to go to the store to purchase them because the purchasing has already been done. Jesus purchased all that God has for us when He died on the cross in our place. Every promise in the Bible was purchased Just. For. Us. And it's just waiting out there for us to want to reach out and grab it.
God's promises are for us, for today! Like this beautiful promise hidden in Isaiah, that we shall never know hunger.
"They shall neither hunger nor thirst, Neither heat nor sun shall strike them; For He who has mercy on them will lead them, Even by the springs of water He will guide them." Isaiah 49:10
It is not sinful to desire the fulfillment of God's promises in our life. That's what God has been waiting for- He's been waiting for His sons and daughters to wake up to the realities that He's already spoken into being. He's been waiting for His children to realize that the price for these promises has been met in full, and that they are simply waiting to be realized.
God's Word IS for today. It's for you, it's for me, and it's for every single person who has recognized Jesus as their Redeemer. It is God's good pleasure to give to us what He desires to give to us, and if gives Him even greater pleasure to see His children desiring His gifts.
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