“In one of the villages, Jesus met a man with an advanced case of leprosy. When the man saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground, begging to be healed. ‘Lord,’ he said, ‘if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.’ Jesus reached out and touched him. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be healed!’ And instantly the leprosy disappeared.”
– Luke 5:12-13
I am willing.
Do you believe your Saviour is willing when you ask Him for help? Are you convinced that what you ask of Him will be done? Many of us will likely admit that we waver at that belief. We read that it’s true and we say it’s true, but when it comes to receiving we are no longer certain. Is our Lord willing? Why would He help me? I don’t deserve it. And just like that we can talk ourselves out of receiving what He would delight in giving.
“… God loves a cheerful giver.”
– Paul (2 Corinthians 9:7)
Our Father loves (blesses) a cheerful giver because He is a cheerful giver in Whose image we are created.
“… it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.”
– Jesus (Luke 12:32)
Our Father delights in providing for us. And His desire is to provide for us in more than just the physical needs that we experience. His desire is for our growth in spirit as we become more and more like our Lord Jesus in heart and thought.
“And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.”
– Jesus (Luke 12:29-31)
“For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
– Paul (Romans 14:17)
He is willing! So much so that He says to not worry about our needs of the flesh. Instead, we are to focus on our new lives in His Kingdom and He will provide for our needs while we seek to grow in spirit. We are assured that as we seek – not obtain, but as we seek – He will give us what we need.
“But I asked Him for a job and I’m still not working.”
“What kind of job did you ask Him for?”
“Just any job. I don’t want to presume or tell Him what to do.”
“Are you trained in anything particular? Is there something specific you’d love to work at?”
“Well… yes. I studied (…) and really enjoy it! And it’s a good service.”
“And that’s what you hope He would give you?”
“Yes! But I don’t want to tell God what to do.”
“But you’ve already told Him what to do. You’ve told Him what not to give you.”
In our worldly reasoning we can believe we are being humble when we ask God to give us just any old thing, but in truth we are being arrogant because we are making excuses for God. Maybe it’s not His will! Maybe I’m asking too much! I probably don’t deserve it! And so we’ve told God how He should regard us and how He should treat us … without checking with Him 😮
“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”
– Paul (Philippians 2:13)
How is it you trained for that job you would love to have? How did you gain those skills? Why is it your passion? Because it is God Who has worked that desire and pursuit within you for His reason and purpose. What you wish to do is a good thing. You have already gained skills. And it’s your compelling desire. Agree with Him, and ask, and pursue like the answer is yes.
I am willing.
It’s confusing, isn’t it? Why would God work a desire and pursuit in any of us to be a website developer? Or a salesman? Or a counsellor? Are those not worldly pursuits? It helps answer that when we understand what we are being given by God. We are being given our request because it will be a means to prepare us for His Kingdom!
“Do you not know that we will judge angels? …”
– Paul (1 Corinthians 6:3)
“if we endure, we will also reign with him. …”
– Paul (2 Timothy 2:12)
“Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. For them the second death holds no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him a thousand years.”
– John (Revelation 20:6)
We are being trained and prepared to rule with Jesus! Consider this: do you learn better at something you enjoy, or something you hate? It’s possible you may answer that adversity teaches better but something you hate makes you look forward to its ending, while something you love makes you look forward to its continuing. And we are being trained for His Kingdom without end. And we are more prone to pursue, and wait for, and anticipate something we love. Our Father knows that about us.
“So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.”
– Jesus (Matthew 7:11)
Whatever we do, we do to learn how to be faithful, how to manage, how to deal wisely, how to serve. It’s our training ground for today in order to rule tomorrow. Our responsibility for one client’s needs today is a groundwork for our responsibility for an entire city tomorrow. Our Father wants us to learn those things, and He desires us to be inspired to learn those things. So why is it difficult at times? Why can it be such a struggle? It’s because the adversary doesn’t want us to learn those things. The enemy wants us discouraged and lamenting and distracted. God our Father wants us inspired and He is pleased to provide us with our desires for that inspiration. How can we be so sure? When we reign with Christ and the devil is imprisoned, what adversities are we going to face?…
I am willing.
Examine the compelling desires behind your needs. Are they good? Do they lift you up and inspire you? Then don’t ask for just any old thing because God is making it clear what He wants you to request and receive.
“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”
– Paul (Ephesians 3:20)
Ask Him.
“Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”
– Jesus (John 16:24)
I am willing.
