Words to Live By

Luke 11:5-13 (New International Version)

⁵Then he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, ⁶because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.'

⁷"Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' ⁸I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

⁹"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ¹⁰For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

¹¹"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? ¹²Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ¹³If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

WORDS TO LIVE BY

I am persistent in prayer. I relentlessly call on my Father to fill my every need and the needs of those in my circle of influence. God is honored by my insistence and gladly provides me with all of the necessities of life. When I speak one of God's promises into my life, I know that I must continually believe and speak it until what I have called for is manifested in this natural worlds. Whenever I am seeking anything, I remember that I have a Guide within me. Therefore, I will not give up until I have found what I am looking for.

When I come to a door of promised blessing that is shut, I will knock at that door until it opens to me and my life is showered with all of the benefits of that promise. When I persistently ask, I receive all that I am praying for. When I persistently seek, I find what I am looking for. When I persistently knock, the door is opened to me and I walk in the fullness of God's blessings in my life.

I am careful to ask for specific things. God does not operate in vague generalities, nor does He respond to my prayers with something other than what I am asking for. Even I, as a good parent, know how to give good gifts to my children. I give them specifically what they are asking for so that they are filled with joy. If my children ask me for something that is not good for them, I simply do not give it. The same goes for my heavenly Father. It gives Him great pleasure to give me those specific desires of my heart. He gives me anything that I ask for that is in line with His perfect will as is revealed in His Word and will work to my advantage.

Life's Little Nuggets
God will gladly sacrifice your comfort to develop your character. [unknown]