Ask Boldly! Why Beating Around the Bush Annoys God

Have you ever watched a child tiptoe around asking for something they really want? Imagine this:

Little Sarah stands in front of her dad, twisting her fingers, staring at the floor. "Daddy… um… the weather is nice today… and, well, my friend Lucy has this new doll… and her dad bought it last week… and it’s really pretty…" She sighs dramatically but never actually says, "Can I have one too?"

As a parent, this is frustrating! A loving father wants to give good gifts to his child—but how can he if she won’t just ask?

The Spiritual Parallel:

Jesus said, "Ask, and it will be given to you" (Matthew 7:7), yet we often mirror Sarah’s nervous dance. We drop hints in prayer ("God, You know my needs…"), complain to others about our struggles, or try to manipulate circumstances instead of coming to our Father with raw, specific requests.

Why This Annoys God (In a Good Way):

1. It Wastes Time – Like Sarah’s dad, God already knows your heart (Psalm 139:4). Circling your real need in prayer is spiritual small talk.

2. It Doubts His Love – Hesitation implies you fear His "no" or indifference. But if earthly fathers give good gifts, "how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts…?" (Matthew 7:11).

3. It Delays Breakthroughs – James 4:2 says "You do not have because you do not ask." Your vague prayers might be the very barrier to your answer.

The Fix:

• Ask directly: "Lord, I need $500 for rent by Friday."

• Ask confidently: "You’re my Provider—I trust You’ll make a way."

• Ask repeatedly (Luke 18:1-8)—not because God is forgetful, but because persistence aligns our hearts with His will.

Closing Challenge:
Stop the spiritual small talk. Your Father isn’t annoyed by your asks—He’s annoyed by your hesitation. Come boldly (Hebrews 4:16), and watch Him respond.

Prayer Prompt: "God, I’m done circling. Today, I boldly ask for __________. Thank You for hearing me!"

I Give You My All

God,

Wanting nothing, wanting nothing,

All I am and all I have I give to You!

Holding nothing, holding nothing,

All I am and all I have I give to You!

On Christ The Solid Rock I Stand!

Hello Friends!

I sincerely apologize for taking so long without updating my blog. Lately, I have been unusually busy with school and examinations. I thank God it's all over (for now).

This hymn that has been occupying my mind in the recent past... I thought I might just share it:

"In Christ Alone"

In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.

What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone! who took on flesh
Fulness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:

Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!

And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.

No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand. 

 

 

God bless you, muchly!

 

I Belong to You!

My will wants to be god and have life in itself- to be self-made, self-defined. It seems a blow to its pride to think that I am created- that the source of my life is You, that I receive from You all that I truly am. To myself, however- to my eternal self- it is the greatest delight- to live only in You, that You are my Creator and that I belong to You.

It is humbling and exulting at the same time- to think that my Creator should come down to me and become like me- suffering with me in all that I suffered, living and dying for me and raising me with Him into His own life; that I should be able to know Him made manifest.

I long to let all the love in me flow up to You. I have nothing in me to give You that did not first come from You. It came from You and returns to You, but through me and is therefore precious and delightful to You, because I am the creation of Your desire- I exist because You desired me to exist.

I do not have life within myself, as You and Abba do- the life I have within me is Yours. You could take and receive life and love only from within Yourself, but You desired to so through others, who are delightful to You in themselves and in this way, the love is even more delicious to You and so I return myself, my life, to You, my Creator- Jesus! I give myself back to You. I live only in You and only for You- I am only for You and no one takes of me but You, because all that I am is only Yours and consecrated to You and sealed by Your Spirit to You.

          *  *  *

Not angels, nor demons, no power on earth or heaven
Not distance, nor danger, no trouble now or ever


Nothing can take me from Your great love
Forever this truth remains


I belong, I belong to You


Not hardship, nor hunger, no pain or depth of sorrow,
Not weakness, nor failure, no broken dream or promise,

Nothing can take me from Your great love ,
Forever this truth remains!

I belong, I belong to You!

~ Kathry Scott

Start Using Your Measure Of Faith

Romans 12:3

… God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

As children of God, we should never say, “I don’t have any faith.” To say this is to say that God is a liar because His Word already tells us that “God has dealt to each one a measure of faith”.

Why then does the faith of some seem to be stronger than others?

Well, faith is like muscles. We are all born with a measure of muscles. But some of us develop our muscles better than others. Bodybuilders, for example, exercise their muscles very regularly to make them grow bigger and stronger.

Likewise, your measure of faith grows when you feed and use it. Each time you hear or read God’s Word, you are feeding your faith. When you confess God’s Word and expect good things to happen to you, you are using it. And the more you use it, the more your faith grows.

So use your faith. You could start with headaches, for example. When you have a headache, instead of always running straight for your painkillers, use your faith. Ask God for healing, and trust and thank Him for the healing.

Now, don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with taking medicine. And if you have to go to the doctor, don’t feel condemned either. Just start using your faith at a level you are comfortable with. If you need to go to the doctor, then go in faith, praying, “Abba Father, I am going to the doctor. I am asking You in Jesus’ name to give the doctor wisdom to give me an accurate diagnosis. My trust is not in him but in You.”

And when you take your medicine, don’t just pop in the pills. In faith, say, “Lord, sanctify this medicine,” then take it. This is because some medicines have negative side effects. So when you ask God to sanctify it, He blesses that medicine. And what will be developing in you, growing bigger and possessing your body until it is too widespread, is divine health!

Beloved, you have been given a measure of faith. Start using it, believing that it is this measure of your faith that causes you to draw from the inexhaustible power of a faithful and loving God!

Thought For The Day
Your measure of faith grows when you feed and use it. 

Courtesy of Joseph Prince