Hello!
I will attempt to reply to Marilyn's answer in this post.
Firstly, I would like to thank Marilyn for a very prompt reply. Next I would like to note that your first paragraph is very true indeed. There is nothing that we deserve. Everything that we have comes from God, as a gift. However, suppose we were to take it a step further, and consider this. Now, God has given us talents and abilities. We can quite safely say that although one may or may not excel if he/she were to depend wholly on these, he/she will have some level of capability to achieve
something. So using this
something as the basis of what we term
deserving, is one justified in asking for more than this
something? As a more concrete example, suppose I were to work with 50% effort on a test. I expect myself to get a B+ for it. Is it necessary to ask God to give the B+ to me? Is it justified to ask for an A+ from God?
Also, Marilyn is right to note that communication forms the core of our relationship with God. Indeed, it is impossible to maintain a relationship with someone whom one has never spoken to, or with whom one has not spoken to for a long time. To ask of God is to communicate with Him, and that can strengthen our faith. But it may not necessarily
stretch our faith, since there is no real test of it. On the other hand, if one were to go beyond mere communication, but were to ask for something impossible or unlikely, and
if this prayer were actually answered, then the faith will indeed be stretched (not so much after it is answered, but when one is praying for it) and increased.
Finally, I would like to challenge Marilyn to think about God's gifts to you, deserving ones as well as underserving ones, and to ponder on our Father's goodness. Do you dare to ask more than what you deem you deserve (based on your abilities, efforts, as well as relationship with Him)? Is it right to do it?
Rgds,
Cyrus
You were blessed by Cyrus
