Lesson Three: Ask, and it Will be Given
Devotion #5: The Good Father
Sierra Combs
I have the greatest dad in the world. He is loving, patient, protective, and kind. When he says He will do something, I know that he will follow through. He wants what is best for me. I know that he loves me and I can trust him. He is a good father. While he certainly is not perfect, the way I view him has only enhanced my view of my Heavenly Father. I have never known anything else, but I am not naive to the fact that many people do not share my experience. For many, their entire perception of God the Father has been twisted and skewed because of the broken relationships with the ones who were supposed to love and take care of them. Perhaps this is you, and what seems like a lifetime’s worth of emotional baggage has left you damaged and doubting the goodness of God. Or maybe things are going okay at the moment, but you are just waiting for the other shoe to drop, wondering how long it will be until you are left alone, abandoned, or abused at the hands of an angry and uncaring God. However, my friend, when we truly get to know our Heavenly Father, we will quickly find out that this is not who He is.
In Matthew chapter 7, Jesus tells His listeners that God is a loving Father who gives good gifts to His children. He is not stingy and selfish, and we do not have to grovel and beg at His feet when we seek Him out in prayer. Matthew 7:7-11 says, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” I love these verses because it gives a glimpse of the heart of the Father. Not only does He provide for us, but He is understanding and caring. He has good plans! The child in the verse asks his father for basic necessities. Would a good father give him a snake or a stone instead? Of course not. Yet, even the very best earthly father is nothing compared to our Heavenly Father. The amazing thing about God is that He gives us full access to Himself. If you have been born again into the family of God through the blood of Jesus Christ, you can go to Him, not just as some lowly peasant, but as a child whom He deeply loves. He promises to meet you there, and you can rest assured that when you seek the Lord, you will find Him. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you. Tell Him that you want to know Him more. The more you know Him, the more you will come to trust Him. He will not trick you and give you a rock when you ask for some bread, and He will not harm you by giving you a poisonous snake instead of a fish. He knows exactly what you need (even when you do not), and He will give you just that in His perfect timing. You can trust Him because He is good. Seek Him, know Him, and know that He has a good plan for your life.
As I read through these verses and reflect on our Good Father, I am reminded of one of my favorite songs called “Good Plans” by Red Rocks Worship. I encourage you to take a listen and read the lyrics below. When we truly know our Father, we will know that He has good plans for our lives.
The Lord is my shepherd, and He is everything I need
So I will not worry; I will not fear the enemy
He said that He loves me; He said that He’s with me even though
I walk through the valley of shadow and death, and still, I know
He has good plans; He has good plans for me
So, I will take heart in deserts and gardens
He has good plans; He has good plans for me
If I know my Father, I know my Father has good plans
The Lord is my Savior, so why should I doubt my victory
Why would I question the rod and the staff that comforts me
He quiets the waters; He quiets the storm inside of me
So what could be better than walking with Him when I believe
He has good plans; He has good plans for me
So I will take heart in deserts and gardens
He has good plans; He has good plans for me
If I know my Father, I know my Father has good plans