Asking

The more I learn about kidney cancer, the more my faith is challenged. This is one tough disease to beat! But, I was reminded this morning while listening to a podcast of Keith Hershey's, that I am to live in the present and not the future. I had heard that message live at church, but it's a good one and I needed to hear it again today. When I live in the future, I tend to worry about what the future holds. That's not necessary and it will rob me of the joy I can experience today.

Another thing that lifted my spirits yesterday was this devotional (Day 54) from Answers for Each Day, by Bayless Conley (my pastor):

The Conditions for Answered Prayer

Yesterday we talked about the "A" in the acronym P-R-A-Y, which is our way of understanding the steps in effective prayer. That "A" stands for ask, and I have come to believe that too many Christians don't believe that God wants them to ask.

God wants you to ask. He really does. But there are some conditions He gives in order to answer your requests. In John chapters 14-16 we find a number of these conditions.

We need to remember that these are Jesus' last hours with the disciples; and He wants them to understand how prayer really works. Over and over He emphasizes the need to ask, but His answers will be based on three conditions.

First, in John 14:13, Jesus says your request must glorify God,

"And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it."

Second, in John 15:7, He says your request must be consistent and in harmony with HIs Word,

"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you."

And finally, in John 16:23-24, Jesus sets the condition that your request bring you joy,

"And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full."

Over and over, Jesus commands you to ask. But when you ask, make sure your request will glorify God, that it is consistent with His Word, and that it will bring you joy.

Well, that is good news to me because the thing I'm asking for the most these days is that my husband would be healed of this terrible cancer. I can have some confidence in the answer to my request because if my husband is healed, God will be glorified. We will acknowledge Him with praise and thanksgiving. I also believe that asking for physical healing is consistent with His Word. The Bible is full of examples of the Lord healing the sick, the infirm, the mentally ill and demon possessed. He is the Great Physician - Jehovah Rapha, God Who Heals. Lastly, we will be overjoyed when Michael is declared cancer-free. That's a given!

So, today I will live in the here and now. I will continue to ask for healing, and I will have confidence in Him who heals.