Ask and You Shall Receive
July 15, 2012 - 5:00 am“You shall have no foreign god among you;
you shall not worship any god other than me.
I am the Lord your God,
who brought you up out of Egypt.
Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.” — Psalm 81:8–9
True Story: A friend of mine was feeling pretty down one day when she had one of those encounters with a human being that leaves you feeling like you’ve really had an exchange with a messenger from God. She was filling up her car at a gas station that she hardly ever goes to when a homeless man named Daniel approached her.
Daniel handed her a rose that he had made from palm fronds that he was carrying on his back and said, “If you have a dollar I’d appreciate it. If you don’t because you only have a credit card, it’s ok, it’s yours.” My friend didn’t have a dollar so she took out a twenty and folded it up so he wouldn’t see what it was. But somehow, even folded, Daniel knew that it was more than a dollar.
He said, “You know, The Almighty takes care of my needs. I never have to ask for my needs, but if I want something I have to ask. Today I asked for a bath and a place to sleep, because I didn’t have either last night. And then He sent me you.”
In Psalm 81, verses 8–9, King David shares with us the secret to getting what we want. These verses can be broken down into three main ideas. Firstly, “You shall have no foreign god . . . ” Don’t think that anything or anybody in the world can help you like God can. Don’t worship money or human beings because it seems that they run the show. Nothing and no one is more powerful than God. Period.
Secondly, “I am the Lord . . . who brought you out of Egypt.” Not only is the Lord the most powerful source in the universe, He is willing and able to wield his power on your behalf. Just as he rescued the Jewish people from Egypt, He can and will help you out too.
And finally, “Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.” Once you put your faith in God, all you have to do is open your mouth in prayer and ask Him for what you want. And if what you ask for is in your best interest, He will fill your request with joy and love in exactly the right time.
God wants our prayers. Of course He knows what we need and what we want, but when we ask Him for it, we recognize that He is the source of all. Once we do that, we become deserving of our request.
So ask away. There is nothing too big or too small. And may we be blessed, like Daniel, to know what it is that we truly need and really desire.
Shalom, Rabbi Eckstein.
This is a very touching story that I can relate to.
You see, the family had to move house as the house was sold and we could not afford to buy another in the city as it was too costly. My family, which consists of my wife and 3 growing children, had to move back to my mother-in-law’s house but I could not stay with them as the house was too small. I had to move back to a house in town which is more than 70 miles away. With hardly any money left I had only one recourse; and that is, to pray like I’ve never prayed before to seek the Lord to find a way for me. Just then an impression came to my heart to ask my son, from my first marriage, for $3,500 to see me through for the time being. As he was newly married and still finding enough money to buy a house and having problems himself, I thought that it was a foolish idea. However, when I did ask him, he willing said ‘yes, dad’. He will bank in the money in 2 instalments as he did not have enough. What a relief.
As a retiree, I have been blessed by God using my son as His instrument. What a wonderful God and Father we have !!
I would like to say that today’s Holy Land Moments was exceptionally good!! It’s a beautiful message. Thank you Rabbi Eckstein.
SHALOM,
Katie.
I truly believe this message….However, we’ve been praying for 20 years for our son to be delivered from alcoholism and it’s just gotten progressively worse. Some days I don’t have the strength to offer one more prayer and I’ve run out of knowing things to ask for.
I get so much out of the teachings you send out. Thank you for your faithfulness.
Judith Marks
I love Rabbi Ecksteins writings but why does he spell out HaShem name and not use G-d
Thank you
Rabbi Eckstein,
I sincerely appreciate your devotionals and although I don’t read everything daily when I do get around to it, through you, FATHER “gives me what I need, need to hear”. HE is awesome and you, his servant, are an awesome teacher. Thank you for your ministry. Bless you and Israel.
I find it fascinating that growing up in New York State in a tourist business and motel we were always subject to people from all walks of life, backgrounds, ethnicities, etc. We didn’t realize it then as young children of wonderful parents, but GOD allowed us to be born into this home with parents who would teach us different from that of the world. Being exposed to peoples from all over the world we now realize how HIS hand was on us and teaching us along the way. My thoughts always go back to specific situations and daily business in our motel…….we didn’t know prejudices. For some reason at my very young age and into my young adult life I couldn’t quite imagine why people talked so unkindly and disrespectfully about the Jewish people (whether tourists or community people) and for that matter other ethnicities. Here in the south, as we all know, it is negro people who had/and still often are spoken of in not so nice terms. Well, with age, education and awareness I now know why FATHER put a special place in my heart for the Jewish people and I am forever amazed at HIM how he developed understanding for HIS precious people. We never fell into the trap of just believing falsehoods and prejudices that others tried to spread.
One of my sisters has been attending synagogue in the Buffalo/Niagara area for several years now and through her teaching/sharing with me I have become more eager to learn more and my love the the Jewish people grows deeper every day.
When I share with others that I have a sister attending a synagogue they look at me with surprise and question. :_) My comment is “that is where we all should be going”
Jesus didn’t come to earth to set up all the religions/churches we have today.
Rabbi, thank you so much for your ministry and may our FATHER fill you and all those involved in this ministry with overflowing love for teaching the truth to all who would have an open heart and mind to hear truth.
Shalom
Roberta
Thank you for the beautiful devotional. My desire has been and always will be to serve him until his son comes.