ASK, BELIEVE, RECEIVE

By Karen Zizzo

Every day presents opportunities to ask for what we want and need. The requests are the seeds for our future and they will harvest when they are ripe. There is a general belief that the world responds to those who ask. To succeed in life, business, or personal struggle, we must always ask questions and seek the knowledge of others, including God. We know we can ask for what we want and that we will be heard. We must also listen for answers in our daily lives.

“You do not have, because you do not ask God”. James 4:2

Are you in need? Ask God to sustain you. Are you troubled? Take your worries to Him in prayer. Are you weary? Seek God’s strength. In all things great and small, both in your home and in the world seek the healing power of God’s grace. He hears your prayers and He will answer. Whatever the size of our challenges, God is big enough to handle them…He is capable of handling much more than we could ever even conceive. Ask for His help today, with faith and with belief, and then watch in amazement as you receive His help and feel your mountains begin to move.

Let me share with you the scripture that I clung to, claimed for myself and my family and BELIEVED when I was earnestly seeking answers when we had been given serious medical news about our son:

“I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full”. John 16:23-24

I intuitively knew that I could ASK, but that I really had to BELIEVE that my request could happen and that I would RECEIVE God’s healing power, His grace, His strength and His love.

When we try too hard to control life’s challenging events, we often mess things up. It would be wiser to hand it over to God and let our problems go. Tell yourself: “I cannot do anything about these problems, but God can, and I will trust him to reveal the course He wants me to follow.” Although it may not be easily understood, divine power is there and it does work on your behalf when you believe – really believe – and stay relaxed in that belief.

God is always ready to provide the help when we are receptive to it. If you refuse to be agitated by your problems, then His power will flow into the situation and everything that hindered a solution will melt away. You do not need to know how it will work; you just need to know that it will work. It is in His time and not ours. The signs of His work and the answers to our prayers are not always immediate, nor are they always what we want. It is God’s will that prevails.

Compte de Buffon said, “Never think that God’s delays are God’s denials. Hold on; hold fast; hold out. Patience is genius.”

“Continue to ask, and God will give to you. Continue to search, and you will find. Continue to knock, and the door will open for you”. Matthew 7:7

I believe that miracles are available to everyone, and we can make them possible by asking for them. I do not think that receiving a miracle depends on whether or not you are deserving. Miracles can happen for anyone.

Terrible things can and do happen to good people. A great many wonderful human beings suffer dreadful injustice and hardship in our opinion. I think that God loves everyone and would help all of us without exception if we embrace these concepts:

1. First, we have to really believe, not just hope, that God can perform a miracle.
2. We have to let go of the fear and place our trust in God.
3. We need to continue to pray and leave it in His hands without restrictions and parameters.
4. We cannot ask for it to be done by a certain date or in a certain way.
5. We have to be open to His timing and will.

“If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer”. Matthew 21:22

In spite of what may seem to be the impossible, you have to take a leap of faith, see clearly what you want, and believe that it can become a reality.

St. Augustine, an early Christian theologian said, “Faith is to believe, on the word of God, what we do not see, and its reward is to see and enjoy what we believe.”

In spite of the outcome, hold on to your belief; cease the struggle to have your life follow your will. Allow yourself to be part of a divine plan and let your life flow daily in that belief. We may not see the whole plan, nor understand all of the reasons and lessons, but we must trust that God does have a divine plan. Trust God and believe that your life is unfolding exactly as it is meant to.

When we are in emotional or physical pain, we can give it all to Him; we can surrender control to Him. In prayer, give your problem over to God, knowing that He is your silent, senior partner. Put the problem in His hands and say, “I am entrusting this to You.” It is by far much better that trying to bring your life into harmony only by yourself. You are asking for divine intervention, and you are symbolically taking God’s hand.

“Ask, Believe and be willing to Receive” and experience exhilarating and hopeful changes in your world and the world of others that you encounter along life’s path.

Copyright Karen Zizzo 2008. All rights reserved. Karen Zizzo is an Author, Inspirational Speaker and Life Coach. Karen delivers presentations and writes books to share her knowledge and personal experiences about how to face life’s challenges and obstacles with faith, hope and love. Karen can be reached at 1-800-538-5194 or karen@karenzizzo.com.