Day 9: Friday, March 3, 2023
Stephen Decker
Asking…
Scripture: Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him! “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 7:7–12 NRSV)
Devotion: I have the privilege of teaching the youth Sunday school class. I have been in youth ministries off and on since I was a youth. And this group is one of a kind. I am amazed at the things they will ask and the things they will share. We close in prayer, even if it means I (and others) am late to rehearse the music for worship. But weekly, in those moments, they ask for sanity (literally weekly, it is mentioned), good grades, and the ability to handle the stresses they feel.
Then they occasionally ask for more… Wisdom for a friend that is making life-changing decisions as a teen, strength in dealing with family issues, and health for a loved one. We lift them up to God in prayer as an act of faith. And we trust that God listens to those prayers. If we did not believe, we would not ask. If they did not trust and believe, they would not ask.
I am amazed at the faith of these young people. It is one of my favorite thing each week.
Prayer: Dear God, Help us to have the faith to ask. Help us to have the trust that you listen. Amen.
AW
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