What to Ask God?

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 “You didn’t choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you could go and produce fruit and so that your fruit could last. As a result, whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you.”

- John 15:16 CEB - 


If you could ask God just one questions, what would it be? People have pondered such a question for ages. Do we dare ask God anything at all? What should we ask God for? Or maybe it’s the complete opposite. Instead of being timid to ask, there is something burning in us that must come out. What in the deepest parts of us must we ask God for? What question echoes in us that we feel only God is qualified to answer?

Often we hear the back part of this verse – whatever you ask God, God will give you. And how many times this feels the opposite of our experience. We all know what is like to shout what seems meaninglessly to God.  What we think we know about God differs from what we are experiencing. What we try to ask God for in fact doesn’t seem to be coming about at all. I think there is more to this verse than a quick read gives us.

Sometimes I think we just need time.  Maybe we are asking for the right things but God is not a genie in a bottle that instantly comes to change everything. God is in charge. And God’s plans – because they are deep and wonderful – take time and patience.

Other times, I think perhaps we are asking the wrong questions. Jesus shares this verse as part of His final goodbye to His disciples. He is about to leave them and I am sure is experiencing all the emotions we would before making difficult and irrevocable decisions. Yet in the turmoil, Jesus reminds us of what must come first. God chooses us. God chooses us and puts us in a place to be fruitful. And not just any fruit, fruit that lasts. And as a result of this setup towards fruitfulness, then we are told to ask God anything. Our questions should be out of doing God’s will not just our own selfish feelings or desires. Focusing on God’s will helps us better know about God and how God plans to mold us and use us.

So how are we asking God the right questions?

To Read More: John 15:1-17, Job 19:1-27, Psalm 34

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