Alright..
Now that you know what it is, can i ask you one more question, Have you ever ASKED for it?
If not, why not?, if yes, why haven't you got it?......
Thank you very much for joining me today, in this post we are going to explore the ancient art of ASKING. Many lack because they ask not and many ask and receive not because they ASK amiss.
We all get by in life by Asking, it doesn't matter what your position or status in life is, Asking is part and parcel of our existence and shall always be so, we really can't get away from it.
The President to be will have to ask the electorate to vote for Him/her, the beggar in the streets will have to ask passers by for some spare change, and the rest of us in between there will once in a while have to ask for this or that.
By NOT asking, we shortchange our opportunities and thus our lives, we miss direction, we live in mediocrity and to be honest, just find life and living really tough to say the least.
Some folks are living terribly depressing lives and worse still some have gone 'mental' for apparently, problems that could have been easily resolved if they had but only ASKED for help in the first place.
ASKing is a very ancient art, yes it is an art, and even our LORD - Jesus Christ once said, ASK and it shall be given you......, for everyone who ASKeth receiveth.....
So, if even Jesus Christ reiterated the fact that we ought to ask and by asking you shall receive, why then do most people not ASK?
Broadly, speaking,whenever people don't ASK, its more or less for the following reasons.
No. 1 - FEAR,
There is a notion that we all have 'skeletons in our closets' and some folks are afraid to ASK for help for example even if they need it for fear that their skeletons will be exposed and they just can not stand to bear the shame and humiliation that follows that exposure. For these folks, they would rather live life of phoniness, deceit, delusion, moreover while silently hurting inside.
It's a shame. You see, my dear friend, this kind of attitude and lifestyle will kill you fast and quickly, its cancerous and should not be your portion.
Fear not, no one does not have challenges and we have all made mistakes in our lives, let go of the insecurity, the shame, the pride and your ego and step out, get liberated - Just ASK! step into the light and let the darkness vanish. There is no secret you can hide indefinitely, soon or later, it will be exposed. Face your fears now, rather than later.
There is absolutely no harm in ASKing!
There is yet another set of us who do not ASK because of fear of rejection.
There is nothing that holds people back like the fear of rejection!
My dear, it is never appointed anywhere in this vast universe that you will be unanimously accepted by all people, that would be a mystery,get that right into your inner man. Not even Jesus was accepted by every one till this day!
Some people will reject you no matter what you do. Be cool about it, its the way of life and nothing to be afraid of. Your life has to go on no matter the rejections which you will inevitably meet in this world, do not be put off, neither should the prospect of rejection cause you not to ASK, go a head and Ask anyway, learn your lessons and move on!
No.2- IGNORANCESome of us at times have no clue whatsoever that help is available and because of the ignorance, we ask not and just keep wishing and hopping. Ignorance is such a terrible 'disease', it will keep you in the dark as for long as you accept/embrace it.
No wonder in the courts of law, they say "Ignorance is no defence".
Well then, to sort out this issue of ignorance, make up your mind to be knowledgeable about your environment, know who is who in your neighborhood, at your work place, in your social club, in your church, connect with people, network regularly, be outgoing, avoid living in your little world and embrace the big community of humanity & above all get to know yourself!
People are your greatest resource, look out for one another, do not alienate yourself or people.
Yet still, another reason why people do not ASK or shall I say don't bother to ask is that; they have asked for far too long and too often that they are just tired of asking, so they resolve to just get by, wishing and hopping that somehow things will work out. Oh no, that shouldn't be.
These folks have surrendered a very precious ingredient for living a successful life - PERSISTENCE
I am reminded at this juncture of the Stories that the LORD Jesus talked about on this very fundamental principle of persistence when he narrated the parable of the unjust Judge and the widow who persisted in Asking for Justice from the Judge till the judge finally could not stand it & gave in and helped her....Luke 18:1-6 and also the story of a friend who went and knocked at his friends' door at midnight to ask for bread....'yet because of his importunity(persistence) he will rise and give him as many as he needeth' Luke 11:8
You see, you can not just afford to give up just like that, keep asking and if you are convinced that that is the person to help you, press on, otherwise go ask another person till you get what you want, because in all honesty, some one has a solution to your problem or concern, you simply have to Ask your way to it. Ask in FAITH; 'But let him ASK in FAITH, nothing wavering. For that which wavereth is like a wave of sea driven with the wind and tosses...... A double minded man is unstable in all his ways' James 1:6-8
Now, Asking , like I pointed out earlier on, is an art, and like any other art, it is 'perfected' through practice. You have to ASK with wisdom and prudence, in Faith. You simply can't go asking anyone, you should ask the right person, like the story of the woman earlier on, she knew who to ask for help, she did not go to the doctor, or teacher, she went to the person who held the key to the solution she desired, not every listening ear is the solution, so be smart and ask the right person, if that one does not help as some will probably do, there will be yet another one, keep asking the right people till you get sorted. Do not give up.
What is important also to note, is that, in the art of asking, GIVING precedes receiving in asking.
Whenever, you ask, be prepared to give before you receive. It's really not that complicated, is it?
Lets face it: until you master the art of giving, the fact is, most of your asking will be in vain, that was true centuries ago, it's still true today and will be true tomorrow.
You have to give your time, give up your pride, give up your ego, give up your shame, give up your shyness and be bold, sometimes you will even have to spend some money before you receive that which you desire after asking.
We will all need assistance from time to time, question is, will you ASK for it? lest you be think that you can make it on your own, think again. There are no self made people. We need each other and we can only be moved to help each other when we know what is befallen us and how will others come to know and help us if we do not ASK for help in the first place?
Just ASK, if there is anything bothering you and you know somebody who can help you, go and ask for help, God has put people around us and in our lives to be ministers of His Love and Grace, reach out and take hold of His mercy- we all need it.
Alright then, we are done.
Fittingly, I shall deffer to the LORD for the last word on this subject: 'ASK and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you:
For everyone that ASKeth receiveth.......Matthew 7:7
I love you all, be persistent in all things and remember - There is no harm in ASKing. ASK expectantly, ASK confidently and don't be afraid to ASK.
Peace & Love
Libs
