We Must ASK

I have been sick the last few days. Actually, I've been sick on and off a TON recently and over the last  YEAR! Same symptoms popping up over and over, and its quite frustrating. I do the "right" things like exercising, eating right, and taking my vitamins. And, yet, it still happens: Sore throat, cough, headaches, body aches, fever, the works. I'm in the process of trying to figure out exactly why it is that I keep getting sick, but more than wanting to know why, I just want to get better...fully better and healed.
 So, this morning as I was trying a list of homemade remedies for my throat, I felt the quiet voice of the Lord nudging me to pray. He told me that I have not asked to be healed. I wanted to say "But, I thought I have prayed that I would get better a thousand times!" But, I know better than to argue with the Lord. He always knows best. And, as I thought about the events of my morning, and how I've been trying to "heal myself" with all the remedies and medicine and I hadn't spent any time with Him, I realized what He was saying. He always uses moments like this to teach me about who He is. So, I'm soaking up the scriptures this morning on asking and seeking God.

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7

"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Matthew 21:22

"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Mark 11:24

"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Luke 11:9

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us." 1 John 5:14

These are definitely not all the scriptures on this topic, but scripture is certainly clear: We must ask God if we want to receive something. Yet, does that mean that we will get everything we ask for? Only if it is in God's will. But, in order to find that out we must do our part. This morning, I must do part. And, I must ask and BELIEVE with confidence that it CAN happen.
My flesh, however, just wants to look up medicine, health foods, and lists of 'do it yourself' remedies to beat this thing ( God loves to show me that I can do nothing myself). In the end, I know that I can never heal myself in my own efforts. I know Of course, I have a part to play (We all do!). I need to treat my body well. It is a temple for the holy spirit that God has given me to take care of in this life. Yet, God is ultimately in control. He is the ultimate healer. He has already given me the ultimate healing of my heart and soul.And,  if I had to pick one healing that He could give, I would certainly choose that one again and again, but, I know that the Lord's heart desires to give us more. He's given us the ultimate gift, but He really cares about the little things too. He wants to heal our wounds, our scabs, our sore throats. He desires to please us. Half the battle is in the asking though. And, today, I'm not going to forget that. I trust and believe that the Lord can bring healing to my body, and that He is in control whatever the outcome.
When we ask for things with the right motives in accordance with God's will, He pours out His answers to us. We just have to ASK. Don't neglect the power of doing something as simple as asking, because it is too 'simple.' God loves to prove His power. And, remember that old saying, "It never hurts to ask..." :)