How good are you at asking God for help?

 
Reading: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7.
 
Good morning, happy Thursday, and many blessings my dear family.
 
In today’s Gospel (Matthew 7:7-12) Jesus continues His teaching of the disciples today. He begins by instructing them to “ask.” Jesus promises that if we ask, we will find what we are seeking for. He continues by saying that if we ask, it will be given to us and if we knock, the door will be opened for us!

“Asking” is not always easy for many human beings. Most of us are pretty independent and perhaps at times, too independent. The phrase or thought: “I can do it myself” is ingrained in many of us. And to a degree, this may be a good attitude to have. We enjoy helping others! Yet for many of us it is not easy to ask for help. We actually may be more comfortable helping others rather than receiving help ourselves! 

In these short instructions for prayer Jesus invites us to come before God with expectant hearts asking for what we need. God is always listening to our prayers. ‘All things can be done for the one who believes.’(Mark 9:23). God welcomes me with a loving embrace, and desires to give me ‘good things’ when I ask him with a sincere and open heart. Am I truly open with God in my prayer? Do I share with him all that I am living, my struggles and my joys, and the concrete situations for which I need his help?
 
By the way, prayer is never wasted. Good things come in prayer, maybe not what someone asks for. Prayer opens the heart for good things from God. Be grateful at the end of prayer for time spent with the God of all goodness. Prayer time is always productive time in making us people of more love.
 
Now ask yourself: How good are you at asking God for help? Are you skittish about turning to God and saying: “I need you to be with me, to help me.” Am I afraid that God will not respond to my cry, my need? Today may be a good day to ask ourselves: do I trust God? Do I trust God to love me unconditionally? Do I trust God to help me?

Now: take a moment and remember a time when you truly felt God’s presence! What was the situation? How did you know God was there? Breathe that memory in! You trusted God and God did not fail you! Today ask God for what you need and desire. Stay attentive and notice God’s presence today. God is with you and with me! Do we believe that? I pray we do!
 
Blessings,
 
Luis+