It is there for the taking!

"Ask and it shall be given you" (Matt. vii. 7).

I thought before I would comment, it would be best to read this mornings devotional first.

[A devotional by A. B. Simpson]

[We must receive, as well as ask. We must take the place of believing, and recognize ourselves as in it. A friend was saying, "I want to get into the will of God," and this was the answer: "Will you step into the will of God? And now, are you in the will of God?" The question aroused a thought that had not come before.

The gentleman saw that he had been straining after, but not receiving the blessing he sought.

Jesus has said, "Ask and ye shall receive." The very strain keeps back the blessing. The intense tension of all your spiritual nature so binds you that you are not open to the blessing which God is waiting to give you. "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."

He tells me there is cleansing
From every secret sin,
And a great and full salvation
To keep the heart within.
And I take Him in His fulness,
With all His glorious grace,
For He says it is mine by taking,
And I take just what He says.]


The amazing thing about the Gospel is how real it is today as it was when God spoke, "Let there be light." Sometimes we can hear or read and even say how precious that freely given grace to each of us is, but yet some can't grasp it. As I read devotionals like this one I am excited as when God first made them real to me. Maybe that is why He has encouraged me to put His words, that He speaks to others and now to me, open so all can hear or read.

Once I opened my heart to Him and freely gave Him my life, then His Word and others that He has touched, brings me to a closer understanding of His Will. This life no longer becomes mine, but His. Does this mean problems disappear, no, not at all. Maybe in some ways they may increase, for there are many that still have not, and maybe will not accept His marvelous gift, that it is hard for them to understand my joy with Him. Maybe this could fall into that saying, "misery loves company?"

Once you receive the blessings then you want to show your happiness. Even before asking and receiving the important part is the "knowing" that it will be. Read that scripture above again, see it is a done deal. It is written! It is God's Word. It will not and can not change. Accept it, take it, live it, for it is God's will!

Jesus Is Hope!

Jesus is hope
when all is gone,
He is there,
when life seems wrong.

Jesus will be
what you will need,
He is the light,
when dark you see.

Jesus will take
away the pain,
and give you back
that hope again.

Is there any hope,
is what you ask?
Remember Jesus is the first,
and never the last.

So in this life
there will be pain,
I pray you understand
In Jesus name.

12/15/09
E. P. Shagott


From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott