Missed Blessing

(James 4:2 KJV) …yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 

It is embarrassing to be caught red-handed not practicing the faith that you preach…particularly when you are considered to be a “faith preacher.” The “faith preacher” statement is not meant to be patronizing, it is only meant for identification. Every “born again believer” walks in some degree of faith.

However there are those, like myself, who encourage folks to live a supernatural life believing God for the extraordinary, such as healing, finances and other provisions. These ministers are commonly referred to as “faith preachers” even though every preacher should believe the Lord for these things.

Over the years I have quoted our text many times while encouraging others that God really is our healer and provider. There is nothing more exciting than seeing one actually witness a miracle or healing for themselves. This is particularly true when they realize the reason they did not have their blessing is because they did not ask. When one does not ask it is usually because they do not believe that God cares enough to even answer them.

However, when one does believe and continues to experience the blessings of the Lord and then forgets to ask when there is a need, then something is wrong.

This was the case with me recently. I had a need that did not even require the supernatural and yet I continued to walk in that need. It is embarrassing for me to say this, but all the while I was walking in need I continued to tell others, “You have not because you ask not.”

My computer is the greatest tool I have other than my Bible. One day the screen on my computer began to get dark lines across the top and some lines down the middle of the screen. Since I had not mistreated my computer I was not sure why the lines appeared. One thing I am sure of...I probably complained more than I confessed our text.

While ministering in Colorado last week my pastor friend told me, “You may still have a warrantee on that computer.” He immediately took my computer and within minutes found out that my computer was still under an extended warrantee. He then called the computer company and had a service man with a new screen waiting for me when I got home.

What seemed to be an aggravating need at the time turned out to be a lack of faith and understanding on my part by not even asking for what was already mine. The warrantee was there, but my revelation of it was not.

The same thing is true with Jesus. He paid the price and therefore the warrantee is in place for us to live an abundant life. However, we must remember that “We have not because we ask not.”

I wonder how many blessings I have personally missed over the years by not practicing the faith that I preach to others. In the case of my computer there is no doubt that I was living below the “blessing line” that had already been provided for me.

Father,

Help us to live in the provision that was paid for by our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. Our desire is to be an example to others by walking in the richness of the word that we so boldly preach to others.

Amen