Come on "ASK", test me......

John 16:24

Up to now you have asked nothing in my name; ask, and you will
receive, that your joy may be overflowing.

Phillips

I love the wording in this translation, I can just hear Jesus saying this: "Come on "ASK" you haven't asked for anything at all, test me, let me show you what I am really capable of." I read this verse and the first thing I think is: "Lord, I have asked a bunch of stuff from you and you have delivered, what do you mean?" But God doesn't see the little things we have asked for as a challenge, (of course that is our human way of understanding God, He is NEVER challenged by anything!) We limit God. This is what this scripture is all about. In the back of our minds, we limit God. When we ask God for things, it is always things that we KNOW He can do, because He has done them for us before, things like healing, help, circumstances,..........BUT God is saying, "That ain't nothing, let me show you what I CAN REALLY DO! I am pointing my finger right now at myself and saying "Stop limiting God!!"

What reason does God give us for asking Him to do bigger things in our life? "...so that our joy may be overflowing". That's all, so that we will be happy. God loves us so much He wants to do the things we ask Him to, but, I think He is tried of us asking for little things. "Up to now you have asked NOTHING in MY name............."

I remember when I was a teenager, a friend of mine had a new bike. It was really cool. It was a Schwinn, the best their was, as far as we were concerned. My buddy let me take it out for a spin. It was a 12 Speed racer. I took it down a long steady hill, and WOW could you move on this thing. Then I had to turn around and ride it back up the hill. I had a 5 speed "Banana Seat" bike, so I knew a little about changing gears to help climb hills. I was struggling with all the levers and the sprockets were making noises as the chain was trying to decide what gear I wanted. My buddy ran down the hill and said : "Get off, let me show you this baby can really do". So he got on put the bike in the lowest gear, (or is that the highest?) and pedaled like a mad man to the top of the hill. That gear (1st or 12th?) made it almost effortless to pedal up a steep grade, you had to pedal about a million times, hardly covering any ground with each stroke, but it was really easy. We took turns the rest of the day flying down the hill and riding back up. Wow, that was fun, I will never forget it. I had tried to pedal that thing up that hill in the wrong gear, and could hardly push the pedals down it hurt my legs, I was getting no where. BUT my friend came along and basically said: "Let me show you what this thing is capable of", got on and took off. I had no idea you could do that.

See? God is saying:" Here let me show you what I am capable of." We cut God short, we limit Him in His power, His Love, His knowledge, His compassion and His patience. Patience to Judge this world, that is patience. But God wants us to ask Him for the unimaginable , the unthinkable, the unbelievable, the impossible, the unattainable , the things that we never ever ever even dreamed of. No, I am not talking about winning the lottery, becoming a millionaire, having "It All" as the world defines it. I am talking about God's best. The best He has to offer, which is "over the top", "beyond our comprehension".

When I was growing up, my folks always bought appliances at Sears. They had that famous warranty, and we always had "Kenmore" appliances. We always had the ones that said "Sears Best" on them somewhere. My Dad figured if your going to buy something, make it something that would last. He felt Sears made the best stuff, had the best warranty, so why not get the best they made? I understand his feeling, buy quality that will last and thereby save money in the long run. He still has a Maytag washer in the garage that runs like it was brand new, and it is about 20 years old, I believe. See, only the best. This is what God wants for us, His best. But God is limited. What, you think I am speaking garbage, that I am a hypocrite? No, God is limited by our faith, and our wants and requests. He can do ANYTHING He wants to, But He needs us to ask Him for things. He will never ever force His way into our hearts, we have to request Him to come in. He will never ever answer our prayers if we don't pray. He is a gentlemen, and He made us with a choice, a choice to serve Him or not.

Man am I talking to myself here: "Don't limit God". I have had some real doubts, questions, had my faith tested, wondered "WHY" ....this week, so I need to hear this. I know you need to hear it as well. By NOT asking God for the things we think are impossible, we are limited God.

Remember, God wants us to have "Joy Overflowing". When is the last time you could not contain your joy? That there was so much love, so much joy, so much peace in your life that you wanted to just dance and run and jump for glory? That is what God is offering, IF WE JUST ASK Go Ahead, ASK, He is waiting patiently.