As we continue in Beth Moore’s study, The Quest, we come to the fifth calibrating question – “How much more?” If you haven’t read the four previous posts, I encourage you to go back and read those as well. God asks the following five questions, which we can use to reignite our with walk him, if we find ourselves off track, stuck or losing momentum:
Where are you? Who told you that? What are you seeking? Why are you afraid? And finally, How much More?
The question “How much more?” can be found in Luke 11:5-13. Jesus is speaking to his disciples about prayer. He has just finished praying and his disciples ask him to teach them how to pray as well. Jesus walks them through what we now call The Lord’s Prayer and then continues by explaining that a boldness in prayer is what God desires. He instructs the disciples to come to God and ask, seek and knock. Jesus then gives the analogy of a parent providing good things for their child. In verse 13 we get to the question, which is really more of a statement. “If you then, though you are evil, give good gifts to your children how much more will your father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:13.
How much more will your father in heaven…
Let’s pause to think about that for a moment.
I was blessed to have had a really great dad. He was a godly man who set an amazing example for me. I never ever doubted his love for me and his desire to provide the best for me. He was always there, always available, a solid, dependable rock in my life. I have my own kids and I know that there isn’t anything that I wouldn’t do for them. If they need me or ask for my help, I do whatever is humanly possible to help them. But that is just it – my dad was human and at the end of the day he could only do what was humanly possible. I am human. As much as I want to be a perfect mom and provide all my kids need, I fail. As much as my dad loved me, as much as I love my sons….how much more does God, my heavenly father love me? Love each one of us? Beth Moore puts it this way:
How much more? ....So much more.
That concept is incredible, mind blowing and mic drop worthy. The God of the universe wants to give good gifts to me – to us! As Beth Moore points out “God is a giver” Romans 8:32 says, “He who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things”
As we attempt to wrap our human brains around the God-sized reality of his love for us and his desire to help us, we need to make sure we don’t miss the last 5 little words –
“to those who ask him”.
Do you see that, did you catch it? God wants to give me good things, he wants to provide for me, he wants to give me the Holy Spirit as a comforter, helper and guide. But I need to ask. God in his infinite wisdom and love wants relationship. He wants interaction. He wants dialogue. He wants me to ask, to seek, to knock. He wants me to intentionally pursue relationship with him. If I ask he will give, if I seek I will find and if I knock he will answer. That is amazing, earth shattering, transformative! He wants to give, I just need to ask.
So then – why don’t I?
Why do I settle to live a life that is not all that it should be and could be? Why don’t I ask? Why do I not avail myself to all God has for me and wants for me?
I have been pondering this lately and have come to the conclusion that there are some things in my life that are lacking that keep me from asking and claiming what God wants to give me. Ironically, if I just asked him to provide what is lacking, he would give it to me. At any given time, one or more of these things are hanging me up, holding me back and keeping me from the abundant life that God has for me. Maybe you can relate to one or two of them.
1. Lack of belief – There are times when my faith falters and I and don’t truly believe God when he says he will provide. A part of me thinks I need to do some of the heavy lifting on my own. It is easy to quote the verses and say I trust fully in him, but do I? Am I looking back and remembering all the times in the past how he has worked and how he has never let me down?
2. Lack of identity – I can easily become discouraged, feeling undeserving and unworthy to come before God. I lose sight of the fact that my identity does not come from myself but from Jesus. His blood has covered me and made a way to the Father. Not because of who I am but because of who he is and what he has done.
3. Lack of focus or priority – It is so easy to get distracted and caught up in the day to day things of life. I become so preoccupied with lists that need to get checked off, responsibilities that I have, people who need me or mindless time in front of a screen, that I lose sight of a God who loves me and wants to spend time with me.
4. Lack of intimacy with God – In my human relationships I do not pour out my deepest thoughts and desires to people who are mere acquaintances. In the same way, if I am not spending regular and meaningful time with God in order to know him more, then my relationship with him is not growing. I am not communicating with him, I am not sharing with him where I am, what I am seeking, why I am afraid, or taking time to hear what he tells me. If my relationship with him is superficial I won’t even think to share with him the needs of my heart or ask him for his help. I am so thankful that despite my failures, foibles and insecurities, despite the fact that I am far from being the person God created me to be, that he is merciful with me and desires relationship. His love for me is great, his patience knows no boundaries. When the things that are lacking in my life get in the way he bestows his grace and waits for me, he forgives me and gently guides me into the place where I can find rest, hope and communion with him. How much more? So much more!
Let’s not forget to ask.
By: Jen Simcoe
