621 Have You Asked?

I have a mental image each time I pray. An image of running back to Jesus on a dirt road just to tell him thank you for all he did for me. When I bow my head, it’s me running back to him. It’s me stopping everything else I’m doing to acknowledge all he has done. This is a newer thing for me. It’s a shift that happened after studying the story of Jesus healing the lepers. Luke 17 tells us the story of 10 men infected with leprosy calling out to Jesus for healing. It says “when he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. Jesus asked, “Were not all 10 cleansed? Where are the other 9? Has no one else returned to give praise to God?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go, your faith has made you well.” Maybe you remember that devotional from a few months ago. It stuck with me and it’s changed the way I pray. I often say “Jesus, I’m running back to say thank you.” Have you been coming back to tell him how everything worked out? Have you been coming back to tell him how beautiful your day was? Have you been coming back to acknowledge his power working in your life? 9 didn’t, but 1 did. 90% still won’t, only 10% will. Be part of the 10% who runs back to say thank you instead of running forward in your busyness. Return and give your praise, show your gratitude, and ask for whatever it is you need next. Yes, ask. Have you asked him for what you may need next? Jesus gathered the disciples, his best friends, and shared a final meal with them. Here, he is preparing them for his death on the cross, telling them all they needed to know. He’s encouraging and equipping them. He warns them in this world they will have trouble, then he leaves them one thing greater than any weapon he could have given them. And what he left the disciples during his last supper, he offers to you and I today. In John 16: 23-24 Jesus says, “My Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” We have power in the name of Jesus. Whatever you ask in his name, God will do. If you ask, you will receive. Jesus also said, you have not because you do not ask. Let me ask you something, have you specifically prayed over your current circumstances? Have you come to God in the name of Jesus and asked him to work and move? Why is it we will do everything else – we will stay up all night worrying, we will call our girlfriends and complain, we will cry to our mama, we’ll hash it out for hours with a counselor, but will we tap into the power Jesus left us here on Earth to overcome the trouble in this world? How do you fight your battles my sister? We view prayer as some ritual we must complete to look all spiritual. Bow your head, recite a little something you half-heartedly mean, check the boxes, throw out the name of Jesus and boom, we’re done. It’s what I often refer to as the “Blah, Blah, Blah Jesus Prayer”. There’s no power in that. Jesus came to replace the ritual and routine. He broke all the rules. He took the place of the sacrificial lamb and blood offering. He is the blood offering. He changed everything. Because of what he did on that cross for you, you now have power when you ask in his name. What will you ask the Father in the name of the son today? If you ask, you will receive. I wonder what is totally and completely available to you right now in your life, but you do not have it because you have not asked for it. I wonder what breakthrough has been waiting for you,