Luke 11:9-13
And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Why is it so hard for me to freely ask? A child of a good father does not hesitate to go directly to his father and seek for what he needs. A good father gladly hears that request and with joy meets the need of his beloved child. Is that how it is with God my Father? My small voice rings out, and He hears my cry and my plea. He recognizes my need and my neediness, and it delights Him to give that needed thing to me.

This child is assured of his father’s love, his father’s ability to provide, his father’s willingness to do so, and his father’s track record of responding to every need he has previously brought to him. Is it, then, a lack of faith, a lack of really knowing my Father which keeps me from so freely bringing before Him every request, big and small?

Because if I really knew and believed, I would know that God loves and that He loves me. In fact, He so loved that He gave His only begotten Son. I would know that nothing is impossible with God, that no need goes beyond His ability to meet it. I would know that the heart of my good God is to supply every need, to help me with every struggle, to give grace and mercy without restraint. I would remember those times where God has met my need before and go before Him confidently that He will do the same again. I will know that His Spirit is with me and He will never leave nor forsake. So may my faith not fail and may doubt not arise in my heart, but may I know so surely and truly that God will respond when I ask, seek and knock.