7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Matthew 7:7-12

Questions for Reflection:

To what degree do you wrestle with a default view of God that He is stingy when He could be abundant? How would this view affect how and even if you approach Him to ask anything?

How do you suppose it would change a person's thinking about God as a good giving Father if they discovered that actually there was much more provision available to them everyday but they didn't get it because they just never asked?

What area of life do you wish, truly wish, you could trust God more that He will provide ultimately what's good for you? How would deeper faith in His goodness relieve you of worrying as much about that area of life?

Prayer of the Week:

Heavenly Father, You are my true Father, who loves me very much. I love you, I trust You, I worship You and step by faith into my true identity as Your lavishly loved child – the identity given to me in my baptism.

Father I join forces with Your entire family praying “Hallowed be Your name on earth as it is in heaven.”

“Your Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.” “You Will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

(Pause and strategically pray these three petitions over the real life situations you are facing. You are calling in the coordinates asking Him to act.)

Father, I join forces with Your entire family praying “Give us this day our daily bread”. I recognize and ask for your care and provision for all of my physical needs from finances to food, a warm bed to a running car, medical care to retirement income …. It is all from your hand. Thank you. In praying I surrender my needs to Your care and I surrender my sometimes incessant need to worry about all these things. Help me trust You Father.

Father, I join forces with Your entire family praying “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us”. Father you are leading me to recognize my deep need for Your forgiveness. Forgive me of my every sin, Father. (Confess any specific sin burdens that today weigh on your heart.) I receive Your complete and total forgiveness. Lead me now Father as I recall any grudges, retribution or unforgiveness harboring in me against those who have sinned against me. I now surrender this all to You and make the decision to “let it go … into Your hands” … to forgive.

Help me Father to live forgiven and forgiving.

Father, I join forces with Your entire family praying “Lead us not (only) into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one”.

Father help us recognize and follow Your leading as we contend for Your Kingdom in this war zone of a world. Even more, Deliver us from the evil one. Jesus, You are the only one who is completely victorious over evil and we go forward this day facing whatever evil may come in the power of Your name. Deliver us from evil Father, deliver us.

Father, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for calling me to be a contender for You and Your kingdom as I live the meaningful life You intend today.

Amen