Benefits

                I get a lot of notifications on the computer in regard to some of my memberships. Some come from the Veterans Administration and  some from Social Security and some from my insurance companies. Obviously, it is important to know all of your benefits.  As you get older, you soon realize that there are certain things that are available to you that were not there before you reached a certain age.  You also soon discover that they don't come to you automatically but that you have to ask, or you need to make application in order to receive those same benefits. This is even true with my Medicare Advantage program. It changes from year to year and the new benefits for any given year are not automatic.  A social security check will not automatically come to your mailbox unless you apply for it.  Oh, it is there for you to get if you want it, but you still need to ask.  There is also a spiritual application to this principle.  There are some things that you need to ask for.  John 16:24 says, "Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full."   

            God desires believers to have full joy in all of the benefits that He has in store for us. While God's blessings don't change from year to year, there are those things that require your asking in order to receive. There may be, however, some who do not realize the importance of "asking" God for something.  They just assume that since they are believers, that the benefits will come automatically.  While it is true that certain things will be afforded to you as a result of your belief, there may still be other things that are dependent upon your asking for them.  Are you wanting to speak to a certain person about their spiritual condition before God?  Are you getting ready to start a new ministry?  Are you seeking God's will in regard to a specific situation?  Then, you need to ask God for those things.  A person who is resting within the center of God's will finds that there is a newfound joy in his or her life.  No matter what the situation in your present life, there will still be joy when you are where God wants you to be.  How are you going to know where that is?  This is where you need to ask the Lord about it.  Prayer is important and it is a vital link between the believer and God.  So, don't put off asking God for those things that crop up in your life where you think there is no hope of ever coming to fruition.  As one hymn writer has expressed, "Take it to the Lord in prayer." Praise God today for His gift of full joy.