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PROGRAM D-7021

Is it easy for you to ask for something? I want to talk about the power of asking.  If you think about it, my guess is asking doesn’t come easy for you.  Studies show that women are far less likely to ask than men are—except when it comes to asking for directions, that is!  But most of us, both women and men, often shy away from asking anyone for anything.  Why?

Well, for one reason, asking for something is humbling, isn’t it?  It’s admitting a need and acknowledging that you don’t have total control in some area.  You need something that you don’t have and you have to admit it.

Also, asking sets you up for rejection.  The answer could be “No.”  Recently I was in a position of asking for something really significant; it wasn’t for me but for an important project at my church.  I knew who to ask, but for weeks I procrastinated about asking because I didn’t want to get a negative response.  When finally I asked, the reception I received was far more favorable and pleasant than I had imagined.  But regardless of the response to my request, as long as I didn’t ask there was no way I was going to get it!

There was a lot of pride in my attitude toward asking.  If the answer was no, I would have to tell everyone involved and I might look foolish.  Or I might lose their confidence in me.  So, instead of asking, I wasted time worrying about how I would look to others if the answer was no.  Not only foolish of me, but prideful as well.

In the book of James we read, “You do not have because you do not ask God” (James 4:2b).  I wonder how many blessings we’ve missed for ourselves and others because we simply have not asked God.  Please understand, I’m not talking about asking for frivolous things or selfish reasons.  But as Christ-followers we have a Heavenly Father who invites us to ask him for what we truly need, for blessings for ourselves and others.  He expects us, as his children, to ask him for help, and yet how often we do not have what he would give us because we do not ask?