You get what you ask for

   “Ask and you shall receive.” [Matthew 7:7]  We all know this verse, yet we dismiss it based upon the assumption that we surely will not get everything we ask for.  Indeed, we have asked God before and did not get what we asked for.  But we should remember, how this Bible passage ends.  “[H]ow much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him.”

   Our Heavenly Father will only give us good things.  If we ask for something that is bad for us, especially in regards to getting us to Heaven, He is obliged by being a good Father to not give it to us.  But that does not end the prayer.  Indeed, a good father redirects his children into desiring what is good for them.

   And if we ask for something that is good, but we are not ready for yet.  A good father will prepare us to receive this good gift.  He does not want to prevent us from receiving it, but must get us ready for it.  A good father does not give a beautiful, delicate necklace to a toddler, but waits and prepares the child to receive it and take care of it.

   And sometimes, we need to show Our Father that we really do want something.  He needs to call out our desire for a good thing.  If we receive every good thing immediately, we may never truly appreciate what we receive.  But if we have to work for it and keep asking, we will be all the more appreciative of the good gift when we do receive it and take care of it all the more.

   We get what we ask for, but we just need to ask and keep asking.  Our Father may just have to prepare us or redirect our desires in order that we receive what is good for us and appreciate it.

   Joseph, as the earthly image of the Heavenly Father, help us to ask for what we desire and accept Our Heavenly Father’s will in granting it.  Amen.