I had a really good day recently. Not only did I get to spend time with someone I hope is a new friend, but I felt good all day. I went for a walk in the morning. I had no noticeable pain all day. I drove home in rush hour traffic from Boise with nary a thought to the “stop-n-go!” I wasn’t overly fatigued at the end of the day.
I do not get those kinds of days very often. This one was a gift from God.
In Matthew 7, towards the end of the Sermon on the Mount, we find the familiar exhortation about asking, seeking, and knocking. “Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching [seeking], and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” [vs 7-8 HCSB]
Then Jesus makes the comparison between mankind and God. “What man among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” [vs9-11 HCSB]
Our Father loves giving us “good things.” Sometimes He gives us good things when we ask, seek, and knock for them in prayer. Sometimes He gives us good things without our even asking … things like new friends, days without pain or fatigue … even patience for rush hour traffic.
He does that because He loves us. He. Loves. Us.
Thank you, LORD, for Your love and for those unexpected, good gifts from above. Amen.
