6/04/2004 05:26:10 AM|||Laura|||Find Me In The River by Delirious?
From their 2001 album Deeper: The Definitive Worship Experience
Find me in the river
Find me on my knees
I've walked against the water
Now I'm waiting if you please
We've longed to see the roses
But never felt the thorns
And bought our pretty crowns
But never paid the price
Find me in the river
Find me there
Find me on my knees with my soul laid bare
Even though you're gone and I'm cracked and dry
Find me in the river, I'm waiting here
We didn't count on suffering
We didn't count on pain
But if the blessing's in the valley
Then in the river I will wait
Tozer says the second thing is to ask (Luke 11:9-11).Luk 11:9-11 And I say to you, Ask and it shall be given you. Seek and you shall find. Knock and it shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives. And he who seeks finds. And to him who knocks it shall be opened. For what father of you, if the son asks for bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a snake for a fish?
Even though I struggle with thinking of God as my father, thanks to Kris' good advice, I can relate a little bit by contemplating my relationship with Susanna. Everything I pray for and want for her, the love and tenderness I feel toward her, the enjoyment I feel when I surprise her with some small gift, the pride I feel when she does well or at least tries hard... gives me at least a sense of how God might feel toward me. Would I give her a snake? Umm... NO. So knowing God wants me to be filled with the Holy Spirit, should I expect less or advance confidently toward the throne with my hands stretched out? He WILL do this, yes, in His own timing because He is sovereign, but either He will do this or He is a liar. Which is just silly. If God is going to take the trouble to tell me this repeatedly, he obviously means it and feels pretty strongly about it.
Jer 33:3 Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and inscrutable things which you do not know.
Mat 21:22 And all things, whatever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive.
Mar 11:24-26 Therefore I say to you, All things, whatever you ask, praying, believe that you shall receive them, and it will be to you. And when you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive it so that also your Father in Heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in Heaven forgive your trespasses.
Joh 14:13 And whatever you may ask in My name, that I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Joh 15:7-8 If you abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done to you. In this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, so you shall be My disciples.
Joh 15:16 You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and ordained you that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatever you shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it to you.
Joh 16:24 Before now you have asked nothing in My name; ask and you shall receive, that your joy may be full.
Heb 4:16 Therefore let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
1Jo 3:22 And whatever we ask, we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
1Jo 5:14 - 15 And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.
Psa 34:10 The young lions lack, and suffer hunger; but those who seek Jehovah shall not lack any good thing.
Jer 29:11-13 For I know the purposes which I am purposing for you, says Jehovah; purposes of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you shall call on Me, and you shall go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you shall seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Albert Barnes Notes on the Bible
Ask, and it shall be given you ... - There are here three different forms presented of seeking the things which we need from God - asking, ‘seeking, and knocking. The latter is taken from the act of knocking at a door for admittance. See Luk_13:25; Rev_3:20. The phrases signify to seek with earnestness, diligence, and perseverance. The promise is, that what we seek shall be given us. It is of course implied that we seek with a proper spirit, with humility, sincerity, and perseverance. It is implied, also, that we ask the things which it may be consistent for God to give - that is, things which he has promised to give, and which would be best for us, and most for his own honor, 1Jo_5:14. Every one that asketh receiveth - That is, every one that asks aright; that prays in faith, and in submission to the will of God. He does not always give the very thing which we ask, but he gives what would be better. A parent will not always confer the “very thing” which a child asks, but he will seek the welfare of the child, and give what he thinks will be most for its good. Paul asked that the thorn from his flesh might be removed. God did not “literally” grant the request, but told him that his “grace” should be “sufficient” for him.
Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
Luk 11:5-13 - Christ encourages fervency and constancy in prayer. We must come for what we need, as a man does to his neighbour or friend, who is kind to him. We must come for bread; for that which is needful. If God does not answer our prayers speedily, yet he will in due time, if we continue to pray. Observe what to pray for; we must ask for the Holy Spirit, not only as necessary in order to our praying well, but as all spiritual blessings are included in that one. For by the influences of the Holy Spirit we are brought to know God and ourselves, to repent, believe in, and love Christ, and so are made comfortable in this world, and meet for happiness in the next. All these blessings our heavenly Father is more ready to bestow on every one that asks for them, than an indulgent parent is to give food to a hungry child. And this is the advantage of the prayer of faith, that it quiets and establishes the heart in God.
I think waiting for this prayer to be answered is actually a benefit - almost like letting your teenager get a driver's license. I look forward to the day I can ask Susanna to go get a gallon of milk at the store, but at the same time, driving is a big deal and it's important that she is ready. You don't just hand a 14 year old the keys - you wait until the time is right, until she's old enough and mature enough to drive. And what a memorable day it is when they finally get the keys for the first time! I don't especially enjoy waiting, but if that's what God wants me to do, then wait I will.|||108634518331931855|||Waiting in the River (How to be Filled with the Holy Spirit)