Ask and Receive
A young lady had just entered middle school (they called it Junior High back then).
She was a lovely girl, but felt insecure in a new school. While she excelled in many
areas, sports did not appear to be her forte. Every day for the first couple of weeks, she
returned home from school in tears.
One day, she shared her hurting heart with her Mother. As her Mom listened to the
heartbreak within her child's words, Mom prayed for the wisdom of God to prevail so that
she could share with her daughter God's will.
The child said that she was so clumsy in sports that no one wanted her on their team in
gym class. She was always the last one chosen, and the team that was required to allow her
to play with them was angry with her because she didn't play well. They chastised her, and
called her names.
When the sobbing child completed speaking, her Mother affectionately inquired, "Hon,
do you believe that God can do ALL things?"
The child quietly answered, "Yes."
The Mother probed, "Do you believe that God's Word is true?"
The child nodded her head, "Yes," and wiped her puffy eyes as she curiously
wondered where her Mom was going with these questions.
Her Mom gingerly smiled and replied, "Hon, Scripture tells us that when a man's ways
'please the Lord,' He makes even his 'enemies' to be 'at peace' with him. You've told me
that you 'believe' in God; you 'believe' God's Word is 'true.' Do you believe that God's
Word is true for a few of His people, or is it true for everyone?"
Recomposing herself, the child meekly answered, "It's true for ALL of His
children!"
"Well then," her Mother inquired, "If it's true for everyone, it's true for
you, too, isn't it? That would mean that if your ways are pleasing God, you not only have
favor with God, but He'll even cause YOUR enemies to be 'at peace' with you, Hon."
Scripture also tells us, "'In ALL things, whatsoever you ask in prayer 'BELIEVING,'
you SHALL receive.' Do you believe that?"
The child reluctantly agreed, and allowed her small hands to intertwine with her Mom's as
they began to pray. Her Mother reverently proclaimed:
"Father, we meet in agreement with You and with Your everlasting Word. Your Word said
that You made everything, and everything that You made was 'good.' You made this child,
and she is 'good!' She is not just good in 'some' things, but You said that she's made in
the likeness and image of You, her Dad, so that would, also suggest that, like her Dad,
she is good in ALL things. Your Word says that 'when a man's ways please You, You make
even his enemies to be at peace with him.' We thank You that this child's ways please You,
and because of that, You cause even her enemies to be at peace with her. We thank You, in
advance, that Your child excels in sports, and is loved and appreciated by her peers. In
return, we give You ALL of the
praise and glory! Amen!"
Every day after that, when the child came home from school, she and the mother would pray
together and confess God's Word. They refused to accept circumstances in the natural, but
elected to walk entirely 'by faith, and NOT by sight!'
Within a few, short weeks, the child bounced into the house, after school, with a gleam in
her eyes, and a peculiar smile on her face that could have illumined all of Manhattan.
Mother could only anticipate the good report.
The child was eager to share some remarkable events. It seems that after the initial
prayer of agreement, the daughter became progressively "better" in sports, ALL
sports. The change in her ability was so unmistakably noticeable that, now, the teams were
actively competing to have her on "their" side, and no one dared call her names
any longer. She had, affectionately, been accepted by her peers as "their
friend!"
God had not only given this insecure child "ability," but he had truly given her
"favor" and "peace" among her "former" enemies! It's an
amazing thing, what a "little faith" can do when God is on your side.
I know, first hand, dear one . . . That lovely child was mine!
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your
neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for
those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven."
Matthew 5:43-45a (NIV)
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If anyone speaks badly of you,
live so none will believe it.
"A good name is more desirable
than great riches"
Proverbs 22:1 (NIV)
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