Venturing to Speak to God

Abraham respectfully asked God to spare Sodom. He began his request by saying, ‘If I may be so bold as to ask you [Lord], although I am only dust and ashes …’ We learn two things from this: First, it makes sense to know your place before God. God is Creator of all living things. We are only dust and ashes, physical beings here for a limited amount of time, with limited strength to survive the elements of everyday life. Second, our weaknesses should not prevent us from asking God to give us what we want. Abraham knew that he was nothing when compared to God, but he hoped God would spare Sodom for mercy’s sake, so he asked God to do this for him.

I think sometimes we are reluctant to ask God to do something for us, because we feel we don’t deserve God’s attention or because we feel we can’t repay God for his kindnesses to us. Maybe we assume God isn’t interested in what we want or doesn’t care about our feelings. After all, we’re dust and ashes. Why should God want to do something for us?

Well, the answer is: Because God is! God exists, God cares, and God longs to be intimately involved in human affairs. God knows we haves wants; he made us to have them. So the next time you want God to do something for you, remember your place before God, then ask him to do it. Remember Paul’s words to his friends at Philippi: ‘By prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.’
Peace!