Like a Good Parent

A study revealed that 4 year old girls ask their parents 390 questions a day, which equals about a question ever 56 seconds of their awake time. (Daily Mail) "Mommy, can I have milk?" "Can I watch a show?" "Where's daddy?" "Why does the kitty play?" and everyone's favorite, "how do babies get in mommies' tummies?"  It can be overwhelming and exhausting to field so many requests in a day, or work your way around those tricky ones that you know YOU want to teach your kid about, but feel that 4 years old isn't the appropriate time to. She'll ask for cookies for breakfast, TV shows every hour of the day, and if she can eat something she found on the floor of the car. I like to grant my child with things she likes, but those things probably wouldn't be in her best interest.

While we probably don't approach God with as many requests or questions each day as a four year old girl, we certainly ask Him questions and make requests. He wants us to come to Him with questions as we read in our current theme verses, Matthew 7:7-8. He wants us to work through our faith and to put in requests. However, we need to realize that like any good parent, God will respond to those questions and requests in the way a good parent would, but even better, as we read further in Matthew 7:9-11. This is the bottom line of our requests - to remember that God will give us what is best for us, not always what we want.

Just like we as parents can see the bigger picture for our kids to an extent, God can see the ultimate bigger picture in our lives. We know that if we let our kids eat cookies everyday for breakfast, it will form bad habits and diet issues. We know that we want our kids to do more than sit in front of a TV all day because they need to explore their worlds and learn. The same goes for God. He knows what will happen years down the road, and what we need to get through the things that are coming.

“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!" (Matthew 7:9-11)

We are told to ask, seek, and knock, but we need to remember Who we are asking, as well as make requests that we can follow through with too. If we want opportunities, we need to look for them, rather than sit around waiting, then know which ones God wants for us by learning His voice and being in tune with His heart for us. In fact, we are told to seek first God's kingdom and righteousness. This is a good way we can get in tune with His will and His direction for us. 

Scripture to Read:
Matthew 7:7-11, Matthew 6:33

Questions to Ponder:
If you're a parent, what is the craziest question or request your child has asked you?
What kinds of things do we ask for that sound good, but may not be that good for us after all?
How do we get in tune with what God wants for us?