Ask for it - My girlfriend makes fun of me for asking for things that I shouldn’t be allowed to get and then getting them. I ask people all the time for things that they probably shouldn’t give me, but because I ask I have the opportunity to get them. A recent example is that I was apartment shopping and found one that I really like, and it also just happened to be #1302 the same as my famed address in school, how cool is God? I was excited about this apartment and was looking forward to signing the paper work to get the ball rolling. I was only moderately hesitant about it because the apartment I had looked at before it had a special and the first month was free. So as I was going through the lease paper work I asked the lady helping me if she could pull some strings and I could have the first month for free. She quietly whispered that she would do that and then smiled like it was a fun secret. So I save a whole month of rent just by asking. Another time that comes to mind is at a rodeo with some friends in college. I was last in line and told someone in the front to use their student I.D. to get the student discount. They neglected to and said that there probably wasn’t one. So after eight of my friends paid full price I walked up and asked if my student I.D. got me in for cheaper. It was student day and I paid a dollar. Asking for things that you want is not wrong. What is the worst thing that can happen? I mean the absolute worst thing that could possible happen? They will say no. No; that is the absolute worst thing they could tell you. They might say no to your exact request, but they might also give you at least a discount because you asked. People can always pull some strings to get you to be a happy customer. If you are bold enough to ask they just might be impressed enough to give it to you. This is actually seen in couple of different places in the Bible. Jesus said it when He told His disciples, “Ask and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. ” All of the favorable responses are initiated by our first action. Then James says it in his book, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” We don’t have because we don’t ask. Now here is where the gospel of prosperity wreaks havoc on people lives. They begin asking for things that are not inline with their needs or the Will of the Lord. When they don’t receive the private jet and billion-dollar endowment they lose faith and claim the Lord doesn’t hear them and that he can’t answer pray. In the book of 1 John the issue of asking is address, but with a clause; “Ask anything as long as it is in my Father’s will He will give it to you.” In my Father’s Will is the key part of that verse. In our lives we can ask for whatever we want, but it has to pass the “Father’s will” test before it can be authorized and given to us. The Lord is not looking to harm us with the ‘wait’ or ‘no’ answer that He may give to our request, but He is looking out for what is best just like an earthly dad. Amazingly enough to me I have found recently that I don’t know everything. It was shocking when that reality really began to sink in, but it is so true. And to be honest it is such a relief. Not knowing everything and understanding the extent of my condition as a human is freeing. I no longer have the pressure of making my life right by myself. It is me and God, we are a team. He tends to do all the work, but I am a big fan of the partnership that He asked me to enter into with Him. So ask of the Lord the desires of your heart. He wants what is est for you and even though we can’t always see why He is answering the way that He is, He’s answering.