It never hurts to ASK... but how many times do you miss out on opportunities just because you were too afraid to ask? OR, just made an assumption that the answer would be no so you didn't ask? Is life like that for you all the time... or most of the time... or maybe even sometimes? My dad always said (paraphrasing), "It never hurts to ask, after all the worst they can say is NO and NO never killed anyone." True, right? So, I have carried that attitude and approach through out my adult life and it has served me well. ASK means: "say something in order to obtain an answer or some information." OR "request (someone) to do or give something."
When you ASK, you get an answer, sometimes in line with what you asked, other times you are overwhelmed by the response because it is beyond what you asked for, and other times it's a simple NO or not now. I have been blessed beyond measure as I am sure you have to whenever the answer to the ASK was what I wanted. I have also grown and matured when the answer was NO because I was either humbled or reminded that there were things about the way I asked or the timing that led to the response I got. Whenever I receive a NO to my request, I sometimes say... it's their loss... my gut reaction... then I realize, when I come to my senses, that they saved me from what wasn't for me. We all know that things work together for good... "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28) So you also need to be okay with the answer NO when you ask--and you will know if that NO is what you need or if you need to persevere until the NO becomes a YES :)
Sometimes there are delays in receiving an answer. However, in some instances we cause our own delays because we are not willing to step out in faith and ask or just take a simple risk. Everything has to be calculated so that it works out according to our personal plans, but that is not always possible or practical. At other times, we ask amiss: "You are jealous and covet [what others have] and your desires go unfulfilled; [so] you become murderers. [To hate is to murder as far as your hearts are concerned.] You burn with envy and anger and are not able to obtain [the gratification, the contentment, and the happiness that you seek], so you fight and war. You do not have, because you do not ask. [Or] you do ask [God for them] and yet fail to receive, because you ask with wrong purpose and evil, selfish motives. Your intention is [when you get what you desire] to spend it in sensual pleasures." (James 4:2-3) What are some of the reasons you have been asking that have resulted in you not getting what you wanted? Think about it.
At the end of the day, it's all about whether or not you are willing to ask. Then master the art of asking by knowing how, who, and when to ask. If nothing or no one else, you know you can always ask your Father in Heaven: "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it." (John 14:13-14) Remember, when you are walking with God, He is pleased to give you an answer when you ask: "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you." (John 15:16) And we have a great example of the result of walking with God: "And the Lord said to Moses, I will do this thing also that you have asked, for you have found favor, loving-kindness, and mercy in My sight and I know you personally and by name.” (Exodus 33:17)
Today, go forth and ASK!!! Not only God... Also ask [Fill in the blank] for what you have been wanting!!! The worst (or best answer) could be no... And you know for a fact that NO hasn't killed you since you are here reading this post today. If anything, NO can stir you in the direction you were supposed to be going that you wouldn't have gone if the answer was YES. BUT... you need to ASK for you to know the answer... don't live in assumption land. ASK! Ask...
