you have not, because you ask not

My modem died last week. I bought a new one at the AT&T store. While there I asked if I could save any money by canceling my land line. I was told yes, I could save some $40.oo a month. Since this was on Saturday, we had to wait until Monday so as not to interrupt my Internet service when the phoneline was canceled. Monday, the local AT&T rep got me in touch with the "official" AT&T customer service rep. This lady said I could keep my landline and increase the speed of my internet and save $37.65 each month. When asked why I wasn't getting the services for this amount before, she simply explained that I had not asked for it.

A couple of months ago my sister got a motel room for a lot less than Kim and I got ours for. When we asked her how, she said that she asked for a cheaper rate.

This has got me to thinking about James 4:2 which says we do not have because we do not ask. Jesus said ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened.

Can it be really that simple? Can I just ask and expect to receive? One thing is certain, the odds of receiving are a lot greater if I ask than they are if I do not. I had always assumed that asking, seeking, and knocking were just between me and God because it was "in the Bible". Asking, seeking and knocking seems to be about life on planet earth. Another thing I noticed as I thought, and that was sometimes when I ask I place limits or conditions on the prospective giver. Before I got sober, I prayed every night that God would take the desire to drink from me, and I would make various offers of my services and behaviours in return. It was not until I prayed in desperate surrender for God to make me sober with total willingness to do anything it took, that He did for me what I couldn't do for myself.

This train of thought is going to require some more mulling before it is concluded.

This promises to be an exciting week. Yesterday I receive my "Freedom Cross" for 4 years of sobriety. Today I did the ATT deal. Friday, Ryder (newest grandson) will arrive, unless Whitney goes into labor before then. I can't imagine anyone being more blessed than I am. Life in the Light is good.

Keep the shiny side up.