There’s a little known story in the Bible about a woman whose life was changed by a dramatic turn of events. Some would say she was lucky. I say she knew how to use the power of asking.
We don’t know her name. She’s only referred to as the “Shunammite” — from a place called Shunem. She had hosted the prophet Elisha in her house many times and generously supported him.
Elisha learned from God that a famine was about to hit the land of Israel. Grateful for her kindness, he gave her the heads up and advised her to move with her family out of the country, somewhere where she would be safe and fully provided for.
So she did, and escaped the famine.
Seven years later, when the famine was over, she returned home — only to find someone else occupying her land. Homeless, the Shunammite tried all she could to get her property back, to no avail. Determined to fight for what was rightfully hers, she went all the way to the king to ask for justice.
This is where things get interesting.
By divine providence, while she made her way to the palace, the king took a sudden interest in Elisha’s miracles. He called in Elisha’s assistant, a young man called Gehazi, who started telling the king about all the miracles the man of God had done — including how he’d raised the Shunammite’s son from the dead. As the woman herself walked in, unaware of the conversation, Gehazi said to the king: “This is the woman, and this is her son whom Elisha brought back to life!”
The king assigned her an officer to ensure she would not only get her property back, but also all the profits her field had produced for the past seven years!
Luck? I don’t think so.
I think her decision to keep asking until she got what she wanted put her in the right place, at the right time.
Ask more, get more. It’s the power of asking.
What an example to follow! Asking without persistence and trust will never work. When i ask without doubting, I will get what i want like the Shunammite. She never gave up or said, 'Ah, my land has been taken so i should look for another one' that was not the way to out and will never be but went ahead and asked for what belonged to her. The same should apply to me, i should not sit back and say 'since my property has been taken away it's OK'. OK nothing!! I should stand up, ask for what is rightfully mine and conquer it.
ReplyDeleteI believe If we persist on what we want from God (never giving up of giving in) He will automatically come and bless us, like the example of the persistent widow who was seeking justice against her adversary and in the end got the justice that she wanted. The same way when we ask we should persist until we get what we want.
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ReplyDeleteI believe God knows what we all need, but because He tells us to ask.
ReplyDeleteBecause when we act our faith, we fight .. and we trust that our request will be answered by God ..
We can not stop using our faith ever ... but we must persevere and ask .. because everyone who asks receives.
I agree with you Mara. We can't never lose our faith in God. We have to ask to receive!
ReplyDeleteKisses to all the girls from Kenya.
Ana Lucia