Dear Ones,
Hope you have an awareness of God’s good gifts to you today. I am going to make S.F. cookies and pork chops that have been marinating all night and then go to my exercise class. This afternoon is Crafts and then Soup supper and Lenten service tonight.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
A word that has stood out to me during my devotional reading lately from James is, “You have not because you ask not!” (James 4:2) Sometimes I am working around the house and that word comes to mind to ask the Lord. Just ask Him anything! Of course, that means asking with the right motive as the next verse says, “…and not with evil desires.” But just think of it when we lack something, the Lord invites to ask of Him! Why are we complaining if we have not put it before the Lord and asked?

We are assured the Lord will give us good gifts, as He knows better than we do what we really need. In chapter one He tells us to ask for wisdom, which I know I need, and to ask in faith and not doubt. James also says that every perfect gift is from above and comes from the Father, so we don’t need to fear. When we pray the Lord’s prayer, we cover a lot of ground as we are asking for His kingdom to come, His will to be done, for provision of our daily food, for forgiveness, to keep us from temptations and deliver us from evil.

But how do we ask? The Message translation says in Luke 11:10, “Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask what you need. This is not a cat-and-mouse, hide-and -seek game we’re in.” We are to be open and honest as we ask our requests with faith. If we don’t get something the first time, we are not to just forget it. Like the song goes based on Luke 11, “Keep on asking, keep on seeking; keep on trusting, keep on believing; keep on praying more and more and more; keep on knocking at the door.”

Challenge for today: The next time you have a need, go first to the Lord and ask of Him, and remember to thank Him when the answer comes.

 Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy