13 Oct, 2010
A Bold Request
After actor Johnny Depp (who played Captain Jack Sparrow in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies) received a heartfelt letter from nine year old, Beatrice Delap, in London, he was moved to respond in person. Perhaps it was what the young girl asked for that got Depp's attention and prompted action:
"We are a bunch of budding young pirates and we were having a bit of trouble mutiny-ing against the teachers, and we'd love if you could come and help."
To everyone's surprise, Mr. Depp, who was working in the area at the time, filming the "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," gave just 10 minutes notice and then showed up at Delap's school.
According to the article on Yahoo News, "Depp, holding the letter, called Delap up to the front and hugged her but he dashed any thoughts of a rebellion. 'Maybe we shouldn't mutiny today because there are police outside monitoring me,' Depp, a father of two, was quoted as saying.Luke 11:9-13
"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about asking God for things?
In the passage just before these verses, Jesus tells the story of a man who, with boldness, goes to a friend in the middle of the night and asks for a favor. While the friend does help out the man, the only reason he does so is only because of how bold the man was in his request: he did not allow the time of day or the request to intimidate him or keep him from asking the favor. God wants us to come to Him for everything, to be able to ask Him, boldly, for that which we need and even want, and to trust in faith that He is able to make it happen. Ephesians 3:20 tells us that God is able to do way more than anything we could even imagine, if only we would be bold enough to ask and have the faith enough to believe.
I don't know if the young girl who wrote to Johnny Depp even thought he would read the letter, much less respond to it in person, but her request (albeit, strange) was something she felt strongly enough about to ask.
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
Do you ever not talk to God about things or ask Him for something because you think it's "too big," "too little," or just "too insignificant?" Or maybe, when you finally get around to bringing it up to God, you dance around the issue? You know your conversation goes something like this:
"Umm, God. I have this thing I kind of wanted to talk to you about. See, I . . . well, I kind of was hoping you might be willing to maybe do this thing for me . . . I mean, if you're not too busy . . . "
God tells us to just ask - to be bold in our asking, knowing that He hears us! Is there something (or some person) in your life that you have been praying for and not seeing any change in? It can get discouraging, but God is calling us to be persistent and bold as we approach Him in prayer. Keep asking, keep "knocking" on that door, and keep seeking Him! He cares for you, even more than your closest family and friends, and He WILL respond in awe-inspiring ways!
How can we connect today's story, God's Story scripture, and our story to others?
- As God lays names of people on your heart who need to know the love of Christ, pray boldly for their souls. Be specific and persistent in your prayers. Claim the promise that God gives us in Luke 11:10 and wait for Him to move.
- Talk to others about the incredible things you see God doing in your life through prayer. Share specific circumstances that you sought God on, and share the ways in which He showed up.
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