Scripture for Today:Matthew 7:9-10 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?”

My Dad loved to bowl which may explain how this happened.  For months as a young girl, I dropped many not-so-subtle hints about the expensive doll I had seen advertised.  That Christmas morning, trembling with excitement, I made a beeline for that big narrow box tagged with my name.  What keen disappointment I felt when unwrapping a toy bowling set instead of a doll!  My Father gave it out of love but it was not the good gift I was expecting.

Today’s passage explains that our Heavenly Father gives good gifts to His children when we ask Him (verse 11).  In answer to our prayers, He gives to His own exactly what is good for us.  He is not random nor is He arbitrary.  Our Father is a perfect Father.  He sees past what may be selfish or frivolous requests.  He answers the deeper need we sometimes do not even see.  And what is so amazing is that our Father is the unrecognized Source of much that is good in our lives!

I have heard people quip, “Be careful what you pray for, you just may get it.”  The idea is that we will be sorry we ever asked.  That does not describe my perfect heavenly Father.  What He gives me is out of love and always for my good.  If I mistakenly ask for a stone or a snake, He has committed Himself to giving only what is good for me.  I can trust His goodness in all of His answers.  I am so glad He sees what is good for me when I cannot.

Thank you Lord, for being a good good Father!