"Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." -John 16:24
These were the words I heard the Lord quietly speak to my spirit as I read His word this morning. It seemed strange to me that on the eve of Christmas I would be encouraged to ask something of Him rather than being encouraged to give. Somehow it didn't seem quite right that I should be asking for anything when He came to give everything. Then, it occurred to me that perhaps it's not all that strange that Jesus continues to desire to give of Himself, indeed He never ceases to give.
So, I thought about what I really need. With all the change my family and I have experienced over this past year I've often felt exhausted and the ability to really give from my heart, the way Jesus always did, seems to be lying dormant. That's when I realized why the Lord chose this morning, in this season, to encourage me to ask of Him. I think that what I need most right now is a renewed ability to selflessly love again. I'm tired of feeling as though I have nothing to offer others. I know this hasn't at all been true, but the exhaustion of this past extended season has taken its toll.
I've happened to watch the movie, "The Grinch" with my family several times over the past week or so, and I couldn't help thinking about a particular scene. It's near the end of the movie when the Grinch finally learns what Christmas is really about and his heart grows three sizes. This is what I desire, to have my own capacity to love others expanded far beyond what I've known before. This is what I asked of the Lord.
If the Lord were to invite you to ask something new of Him today how might you reply?
