April 21

Moments with God, April 21

Matthew 7:7-8 (ESV) [Jesus said,] 7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

We had come from different states to meet in Colorado for a family vacation. One of our day trips involved taking a narrow-gauge railroad. We traveled through some beautiful scenery, and the slow pace of the train provided a relaxing trip. We also had the opportunity to take pictures. On the return trip, we were hoping to see a grizzly bear as they populated this area. Sitting with my nieces, we kept our eyes opened but no bear. Knowing the trip was coming to the end, I said out loud, “Lord, let us see a bear.” Less than a minute later, a bear came into view. Those around me who had heard my prayer were amazed.

I smile when I think of that because I, too, was amazed. When we read Jesus’s words, we may seldom think of asking for something so simple, unimportant, and frivolous as seeing a bear on vacation. We should understand Jesus is not inviting us to treat Him as a wish list, but Jesus puts no limits on asking. My request was a sincere one. I, along with others, wanted to see a bear. Jesus can answer that request just as easily as He can answer a prayer for healing. He does not have a limited amount of power for answering prayers so that my request for seeing a bear took away from a more important prayer. Jesus is with us always, and He cares about us. We are putting in a garden, and I ask Him to bless every seed. I will plant and water. Only He can make it grow, so I ask Him to do that. We do not need to limit our prayers or fit them into a mold. Jesus wants us to come to Him for every need.