“I Can’t Ask For That Again!”

For the Messiah did not enter a sanctuary made with hands (only a model of the true one) but into heaven itself, so that He might now appear in the presence of God for us.  Hebrews 9:24

Have you ever needed someone to intervene on your behalf?  Perhaps a situation was critical, so critical that you begged this person to put in a good word for you.  He agreed, things went well, and you got what you needed.  Imagine for a moment, however, that you are in a position to need this same thing again, only on a weekly basis.  You have to ask your friend for his help ~ over and over again.  You’d probably find that though he was quite willing to help you out the first time, maybe even the second, your repeated requests fell on increasingly unreceptive ears.  At some point, he felt taken advantage of.

Not so with our Savior.  Without time limits, Jesus sits at the right hand of His Father and His primary responsibility is to pray for us and mediate for us.  He brings our critical needs to God’s attention.  He defends our holiness to our enemy who thrives on making accusations against us.  Jesus doesn’t care how many times we may need the same thing over and over.  He never tires of our request.  In fact, if it’s for our ultimate good, He’ll ask for more than we’ve requested.  Generosity is in His nature.  Compassion is only a part of His many beautiful attributes.  Every unfathomable character quality of Jesus is working on my behalf as He speaks my name over and over in the presence of God.

“I can’t ask Him that again!” ~ need never be on the lips of God’s child.  Neediness does not turn Him off; it delights Him.  It is an acknowledgement that I am aware to what extent I live and breathe in Him.  I don’t pretend to be strong, in and of myself.  I am only strong ~ in Christ.  I don’t pretend to be insightful, in and of myself.  I am only wise ~ in Christ.  This is true for every good and perfect gift that comes from above.  If I’m lacking, perhaps it’s because I forgot to ask for it.  Or worse yet, I didn’t believe that it was mine to ask for.

Right now, at this very moment, Jesus’ eyes are watching you read this devotional.  He sees you taking in the truth that what you need does not disgust Him, disappoint Him, overwhelm Him, nor is it an imposition to bring up what you need to His Father.  You might say, “If He knows I need it, why doesn’t He just ask without me jumping through all these hoops?”  I believe it’s because of this ~ when we ask, we are internalizing the truth that we can ask, and should ask.  Love is more deeply understood when our petitions are vocalized, then received by the other person with pleasure.

Show me what it is I’m afraid to need.  Amen