Know What You Want, Then Ask

Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart. Psalm 37:4



My grandson and I were sitting enjoying a quiet evening. After a several minutes of moving , jumping around he stopped and said he wanted something to eat. I was surprised since he views any meals as an interruption in his day. So, I followed him to the kitchen. He pointed to the “snack cabinet”. “Grandma, may I have some crackers?” he asked.

“Of course”, I said. I reached for a box of crackers and handed him a couple of Town House© crackers. “No, Grandma I don’t want that kind!”

“Really!” I exclaimed.

I reached for the Ritz© crackers that he had fallen in love with after a visit with his great grandma. “No, Grandma not those! Not that kind!”

There are no other crackers in the cabinet. So, now I am puzzled and amused. But I am really curious about his request. We are both looking at one another. He just shook his head in disbelief as if he were saying, “Really, this isn’t that complicated!”

Then he walked to the other side of the kitchen and pointed to another cabinet. This cabinet houses snacks that are not opened yet. “Open the door!” he says with excitement. I opened the cabinet door. He looks eagerly. “Grandma, I want the cracker with ONE HOLE!!” I looked at him as he held up his right index finger. I began to laugh when I saw the box of Cheezit©! He's too much!

Many times we pray and our prayers are vague. We have a particular need, yet we chose to settle because settling is easier. My grandson didn’t want the oval cracker with the 10 holes or the round cracker with 6 holes. He wanted the square cracker with ONE HOLE! He wouldn’t settle!. These boxes were already opened and available immediately. He didn’t want that. Therefore, he asked for something different.

He was persistent and he knew which cabinet to go to. I put some crackers on a napkin at the kitchen table, and Quincy smiled and bounced as he ate. He was happy.

When we take the other crackers, we cheat ourselves. Some think, “At least I have something!” When in actuality, “At least you have nothing!”

What is it that you want? Do you want the pain to stop? Do you want the abuse to stop? Do you want the anger to stop? Do you desire to learn to forgive? Do you want the drinking and smoking to stop? Do you want the promiscuity to stop?

I submit to you that if you drop down on your knees and give it ALL to the Lord, He will bring deliverance. But you will have to stay connected to the Word, from which God speaks. Your heart and mind will have to stay clear so you can hear. Therefore, you may have to divorce some people and activities from your life.

This is not easy. But you know which cabinet in your heart is still closed. Seek God, wait and allow him to renew your strength.