Listen

And I tell you: Ask and you will receive. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened to you. Everyone who asks, receives. Whoever seeks, finds. To everyone who knocks, the door is opened.

Luke 11:9-10

Think

“Ask and you will receive” is not a magic formula. There will be many things for which you ask God that you will seemingly never receive. However, there is something behind the asking that God may resolve.

I remember when I prayed to God that I would be popular in high school. I saw that the popular kids had fun, and I wanted to be popular and have fun. God did not answer that prayer — I was never popular. However, the real prayer that I was trying to say but could not really say was, “God, I am lonely. I want a good friend.”

Later, a kid with special needs was placed in my class. He had severe cerebral palsy and severely slurred speech. Somehow, I was the only person who could really understand him. We soon became fast friends. He was funny and smart. Most of all, he was caring. God answered my prayer and sent me a friend with whom I had a lot of fun. God always answers real prayers.

Iyabo Onipede

Pray

Dear Lord, answer the prayers behind the words that I speak in my prayers. Help me know what it is that I really want. I trust you to provide that for me. Amen.

Go

God loves you deeply and passionately. God wants a wonderful and exciting relationship with you. God wants to communicate with you and listen to you. God wants you to hear what God is saying to you today.

Go into today, knowing that you are profoundly loved and that you have a close and intimate relationship with the Creator of the Universe because you prayed.