Wonder: What God Grants

Grandboy Aidan is consistent.  Whenever I see him—which is not nearly often enough—he says, “Jeedoo, do you have a surprise for us?” (Isn’t that nice he includes his brothers.)

Needless to say, I do not want to disappoint.  I always grant his request with some surprise, sometimes very small, others time more significant.

When our daughter Debbie was applying to university, we were thrilled when we received a letter from the college granting her not one, but two, scholarships:  one for soccer and the other for academics!I’m on the Board of a nonprofit that is occasionally so pleased to receive a grant of funds from a foundation.

Our God is a granting God.  He loves to grant our requests, to give good gifts, to meet needs, yes, even to surprise us. He did it throughout Scripture.

Joseph:  “Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined. But while Joseph was there in the prison,  the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.  So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there.” (Genesis  39:20-22)

Hannah:  “…and she said to him, ‘Pardon me, my lord. As surely as you live, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord. I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.’” (1 Samuel 1:26-28)

Jabez:  “Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, ‘Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.’ And God granted his request.” (1 Chronicles 4:10-11)

David:  “The king rejoices in your strength, Lord.  How great is his joy in the victories you give! You have granted him his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips.” (Psalm  21:1-2)

A Gentile woman:  “Then Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.’ And her daughter was healed at that moment.” (Matthew 15:28)

God is still granting requests, needs, even surprises, to you and to me.  Such as:

Suffering:  “29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him…”Hmm.  Probably that isn’t the kind of gift I was hoping for.  But God assures me it is a good gift:  It includes comfort from God Himself, it conforms me to Christ, it brings glory to God.

Then look at this WONDERful gift God has granted us:

Everything we need:  “…seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness…” (2 Peter 1:30)

He gives us all we need to sustain life and to grow in godliness, in Christlikeness.   Nothing is lacking.  We can go to Him with our every need to live this life in Him.  And He has already granted it.Everything.

Wow!  What a gift! I am in awe!

What about you?  What do you desire that God is ready to grant?

C2013 Judy Douglass