Ask Him

     What do you do when your child, really any child, comes to you asking you something, pleading to you for something? If you can see the want in their eyes, you can feel it in your heart. But remember. That doesn't mean you always grant them their wish. Sometimes they are asking for snakes (metaphor), and other times they are asking for something credible. You'll know the difference. Your discipline in your discernment of what is good or bad for them gains respect and security for them as they realize what they were asking for was either necessary or unnecessary. 

     I believe that's how God works. He knows what we need and what we don't need. Ask Him. He will either provide your need or show you that what you're asking for is not what is necessarily good for you. Sometimes, we think we need things that the world tells us we need and lots of times, eventually, we are shown that it would have either let us down into pride or envy or some other distraction that is opposite of what God says we need. It's all in the asking. Are we asking on a whim, or are we asking on our knees? He knows us. He knows what we need and in that need, we succeed. Ask Him if it's good for you . If it will benefit us or the person we're praying for. We'll know sooner or later in the account of the asking. I've found, that when I asked with surrender, my prayer gets answered one way or another right away. But if we want to be like Faruka from Willy Wonka, "I want it now Daddy!"  that is not going to get you anywhere. He is the boss.  All things come from Him that our good. Our desires are not always necessarily good. They could hurt us and He knows it. Ask Him. Ask Him if it's His will or your will. He'll let you know, I promise. He is not a far off God. He's wherever you place yourself, whether it be at Church, or your bedroom with the door shut. He's listening. 

     If I ever had a friend, it's our God who makes Himself known whenever I ask. He's waiting. Just ask.