Ask, And It Will Be given to You

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

Over the past two years my family has come to know and love a group of soldiers and their families who served with my son Andy. Yesterday Michael Wagnon and his family received some very good news. Praise to God our Father, the Holy Spirit that brings comfort, and the Son - Jesus Christ who saves!

The news of murder charges against Michael Wagnon being dropped "in the interest of justice" gave me an opportunity to look at this news from two perspectives. Obviously the Matthew 7:1 passage about reserving judgement comes to mind. Certainly, when the charges were first annouced, there were/are many who immediately rushed to judgement saying "Surely the Army would not charge someone unless they had compelling evidence." And now others will say he dodged the murder charge. This type of flawed reasoning exists and will always exist until Christ returns. But there is another completely different view of this situation I will spend some time exploring.

When we pray for our men and women in uniform we often pray for their safety while serving in foreign lands. And we will often pray for their safe return to their family and loved ones. But how often do we pray for God's will to be fulfilled in their lives? How often do we take the time to ask our Father in Heaven that their lives would be pleasing to the Lord while serving our country? I can honestly say while my son was serving that the prayer for God's will was not as often as my prayer for his safe return. And while I cannot say I am pleased with the result, my son returned from Afghanistan safely. The same can be said for Michael Wagnon, Corey Moore, Adam Kelly, and many others Andy served with. They returned from war somewhat scathed by the experience, their lives have been changed, but they are safe nonetheless. God has a plan for these young men, and their families. He has a future for them that gives all humanity an opportunity to stand in awe of. What we pray for now for these fine young men and their families is no less important than what we prayed for while they stood in harms way serving our country. We will "ask", strong in the knowledge that "it will be given". We will "seek", knowing that through the love of God our Father we "will find" it. And we know with certainty that when we "knock" on Heaven's door, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, it "will be opened". May God's will be fulfilled in all it's glory in their lives, as well as our lives, today and every day.

PRAYER: Lord and Giver of Life, You have brought many of our family and friends safely home from war. For that we give You praise, honor, glory and thanksgiving. As they move forward in their lives we ask that Your will would be fulfilled in their lives. We ask that they would stand as a beacon for others to see radiating Your purpose and love for others to see. We ask Father, for Your peace which surpasses all understanding, to bring comfort when they are troubled. This we ask in the name of Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.