Have we forgotten who God IS, when our needs are spelled ME?

Have we forgotten who God IS; when our needs are spelled ME?

The paradox exists when Jesus told his disciples to Ask. Seek, and Knock; Ask and receive; Seek and find; Knock and the door is open before us.  (cf Mt 7: 7 - 8).  It appears that nothing will require us to accomplish what is given us by letting God know we are in need of safety and freedom from evil intentions of an enemy.

There is another side to this generosity that our Father wills for our benefit.  It contains the selfish attitude that places each of us at a crossroads of intense thankfulness or a sign of taking God for granted.  

Sometimes any one of us may forget that thanking God for every large and small grace he places upon our heart is easily forgotten.  However, there never is a moment when the “I” that lingers in our sense stands up and expects a carte-blanche outcome.   Here is where the selfishness of our own attitude of my importance wants to take over the graciousness of God and the expectation is now, if you please.  

In the words that Jesus spoke to the disciples assuring them that God hears us and always is  

Quick to respond to our needs proves how loving a creator he is for human beings; his children who will always be there with hands out for some of his love.  

What can become arrogant in our selfish attitude is the moment anyone of us decides that God made me in my own image and is missing the point of a Father/Child relationship.  Be careful because that is exactly what Satan did in his arrogance to make his existence self-important in the scheme of things in and out of eternity.  That type of arrogant attitude is the worst sin of all against God; Pride!

If we hate, it is envy.  When we place ourselves above God, it is pride.  And each time we put ourselves above all other human beings and want the attention of God for our express needs, it is apostasizing God’s need and presence in our lowly life as a creature, not the creator.

Expecting to be treated like royalty when our human instincts are always ahead of our feet and the path chosen becomes confused with the guidance of the Holy Spirit in lieu of our own individualism that never seems to get things right.  The word that describes the need for that scenario is Humility.  

If Adam and Eve would have humbled themselves when God discovered their sin perhaps none of us would have needed Christ.  However, we know that this fits the plan of God to redeem us and send Christ through Incarnation that led to the Cross/Tomb and Resurrection for all of us.

At least keep this in mind every time we feel that our presence is there before God to set the example of how he hears our every plea should become a prayer of thanks not expectations.  

Ralph B. Hathaway