Text: Matthew 7:7-12
Memory verse:
”For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly.“
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭84‬:‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

It is common in most organizations to see some staff planning ahead and making financial commitments based on their expectations of an increase in their salaries. This happens especially during the usual incremental month or when the management had already announced publicly that there would be an increase in salary that month.
However, I observed something strange in a particular month when we just made a slight increase in the salaries of a few staff. Most of the staff, unlike in the past, didn’t acknowledge the increase until after a few days. In fact, some of them didn’t know until they were informed and thereafter went back to confirm it. You see, they acted that way not because they were ungrateful but because they were not expecting such an increase.
This is what happens in life. Our expectations are mostly based on words of promise given to us at one time or the other. Most parents will appreciate this more, as you see your child’s expectations raised after promising to buy a toy for him if he does well in his test. You can be sure that the first thing the child will do after seeing his results is to ask for the toy you promised!
Now, as God’s covenant children, should we not expect more from God based on the promise He has given us in His Word? Shouldn’t our expectations be raised higher, knowing that He is more willing to give us good things of life far more than our earthly fathers or our human employers? Hear what Jesus said,
“As bad as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!“ ‭‭(Matt 7‬:‭11‬ ‭GNT‬‬).
God has given us a promise in His Word and we know He is faithful to fulfill that promise (Josh 21:45). However, the condition is that, like the child, you must have an expectation and you must ask to receive. God will give good things to His children “who ask Him”. Cameron Thompson said, “Heaven must be full of answers for which no one has ever bothered to ask.”*
Friends, God wants to give you the good things of life. Dare to ask Him today.

Prayer points
1. Thank God for being a good Father and for His willingness to give You the good things of life.
2. Identify something that He has promised you in His Word, set your expectations high and dare to ask from Him.

Today’s declarations
1. As a father gives good things to his children, God as a good Father gives me good things of life and gives richly.
2. God’s Word sets my expectations and my confidence to ask Him.