Tuesday, November 1, 2022

Mr. Miyagi and the Power of Asking

Suggested Reading: Matthew 14:22-29

Daniel was running for his life. He had played a prank on the school bully in an attempt to get even with him and he was now being chased by the bully's entire gang of goons. They finally caught up with him as he tried to jump the fence surrounding his apartment complex and they pulled him down, kicking and pummeling him without mercy. Suddenly a shadowy figure flew over the fence, ambushing Daniel's attackers. In a flurry of kicks and chops, Mr Miyagi subdued each of Daniel's assailants as Daniel seemed to drift in and out of consciousness. When Daniel awoke, he asked Mr Miyagi why he had never mentioned that he knew karate. Mr Miyagi replied, "You never asked."

We miss out on a lot in life because we never ask. We don't get a raise because we never ask. We don't go out with that cute girl because we never ask. We miss our favorite thanksgiving food because we don't ask for it. So many things we never learn or experience because we just never ask. There are even some things in our walk with God we miss out on because we simply never ask.

As Isaiah was standing before God's throne, he heard God ask, "Who will we send as a messenger to these people? Who will go for us?" And Isaiah replied, "Here am I Lord! Send me!" (Isaiah 6:8, NLT). As Peter watched Jesus walking on the water across the lake, he cried out, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water" (Matthew 14:28, NLT). In both cases, God did something incredible in these men's lives. God did the miraculous in a way that changed the world through both men. But both men asked to be used. God did not force it on them. He allowed them to be in the right place at the right time, but in both cases the miraculous hinged on their willingness to ask God if they could be a part of what he was doing, if they could be where he already was.

Sometimes, God goes out of the way to get our attention like God did with Saul on the road to Damascus. But at other times, God wants us to ask to be a part of what God is doing. If you want God to do the miraculous in your life, if you want God to use you in an incredible way, don't be afraid to ask. In fact, God may just be waiting for you to ask so that the impossible can begin.

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