ASK For Your Miracle

You have nothing to lose and everything to gain

In part one of ASK we looked at the boldness of of Rahab, Achsah, and Zelophedad’s daughter’s in regard to asking for what they needed with little to none hesitation, with the purpose of each one of us being inspired to ask for the miracle we need. Now we’ll look at the lives of three more women, Hannah, Ruth, and Tamar, and may their lives serve as another “faith booster.” For each of these women were likely ordinary women whose lives may have been ordinary, yet each one did something extraordinary enough to be recorded for our example. So let’s look at their lives, not as a bible study, although I encourage you to read their stories on your own, but as an inspiration to move in faith and believe for the extraordinary and ask for the miracle that you need. Nothing is too hard for the Lord; As He Himself says, “I am the God of all flesh, is anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27) so let your faith arise as you read the following synopses of women who stepped out of the ordinary and into the extraordinary.

First up to the plate is Hannah. I see her as such a gentle spirit, although in no way was her request a “light” one. Here’s what her ASK sounded like:

“…O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your maidservant and remember me, and not forget your maidservant, but will give your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life…” (1 Samuel 1:11)

Now Hannah’s husband Elkanah thought Hannah should be satisfied with her lot in life. He was a loving husband after all (at least in his own eyes) what more could she want? “Why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?” but this was easy for him to say – he already had sons and daughters by his wife Peninah. Hannah, however had had enough of her continued barrenness with the added of cruelty of the taunts of the “other wife” which alone would be enough of a rub for many women. Hannah therefore had ample reason to resist Elkanah’s attempt to persuade her to settle for her lot in life. She knew she would never be content with her situation. Something rose up in her spirit and she was unwilling to push it back down; she was unwilling to settle for barrenness. So Hannah fervently sought the LORD and the LORD heard her cries and answered her prayer.

Hear me now. Hannah asked for a son and made a vow she would give him to the service of the LORD, but could she have known what God would do? Because God wanted a prophet for a nation and that is what He delivered. Won’t he do it! God always doing above and beyond what we ask, think, or imagine. And Hannah had several more children after Samuel. She gave the first-fruit of her womb to the LORD and He gave back to her more than she could possibly have dared to hope for. This was her overflow. The is God we serve! Be encouraged. And give God your ASK.

It's time now to shine some light on Ruth. Her ask was of Boaz and it sounded like this:

“Take your maidservant under your wing, for you are a close relative.” Ruth 3:9
And this was quite the ask! Essentially, “will you marry me?” in today’s terminology. What Boldness! But from the moment we meet Ruth, when she prophesies her future “Where you go I will go, your people will be my people, your God, my God” Ruth never once wavers. She’s resolved. She stays the course. She does what she has to do, without complaint and with a pure heart. Essentially, she’s determined to be established in a new land, a land without famine. I don’t know about you, but I’ve had enough famine, enough wilderness in my life. And like Ruth, I want to be willing to do and to say the audacious thing. Because sometimes we have to be willing to make the audacious REQUEST. And do the audacious thing. After all, isn’t this when God shows Himself strong? And I’d like to add- It’s not too late. You’re not too old. You’re not too young. You’re right on time. To GIVE GOD YOUR ASK. You might be single. You might be divorced. You might be a widow. Be encouraged and make the ASK. And say it out loud with me, “I will ask for my miracle!”

It get’s even better however, when we look at Boaz’s response. And because the Word of God is living and active, I want you to hear it as the LORD speaking directly to you:

“And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you request…”

Did you hear that? How willing Boaz was! The Lord also is willing! Be encouraged to exercise the same measure of faith and give God your ask. His ears are open, and His heart is willing. Especially when your desires align with His desires.

And for those who’ve already mastered the boldly ASK, let’s look at a woman who went beyond the bold ask and straight to the apprehend! May her story inspire all of us.

Her name is Tamar - one of only three women mentioned by name in the geneology of Jesus. And I asked the LORD recently what these three women might have had in common… and immediately I heard in my spirit “They were tenacious.” So let’s look at Tamar and see what her proactivity and tenacity accomplished for her.

As we are introduced to Tamar (Genesis 38:7) we’re told that her husband was so wicked the LORD killed him. It’s an ominous beginning. Now, Tamar’s father-in-law is Judah and after the death of his son, he then commands one of his other sons to marry and impregnate Tamar in order to raise up an heir for his deceased son. Judah’s next son disobeys his father’s directive as he doesn’t want to raise up an heir for his brother. He emits his seed to the ground and this displeases the Lord and the LORD kills him. This is strike trike two for Tamar. Judah then tells Tamar to remain a widow “for a time” until one of his next sons comes of age, but this is nothing but subterfuge on Judah’s part because he has no intention of following through, evidenced by his own words, “lest he also die like his brothers.”

A lot of women would have given up hope at this point, but not Tamar. She makes the bold decision she’s not ready to be cast aside. It may be that the men in her life haven’t done right by her, but she’s unwilling to be robbed of what was promised to her, unwilling to lose out on her inheritance. Tamar is determined to have her baby, no matter the cost. So with a daring spirit and the highest level of audacity she poses as a prostitute, gets herself impregnated by her father-in-law Judah, gives birth to twin baby boys and secures herself a place in the family lineage of Christ. Tamar’s behavior is scandalous, but in the end Judah has to acknowledge, “she has been more righteous than I.” Tamar’s story is wild. But what we see is a woman doesn’t passively wait for her situation to change, a woman who doesn’t wait for someone to come and rescue her. A woman who decides SHE will be the one who will change her situation. And I believe that Tamar did what she did because she trusted God with her life.

Tamar’s story is my favorite, although I admire all three of these women. And it causes me to examine my own level, measure, and exercise of continuing faith. And even as I type these words, I await an outcome of something I’ve been praying and believing for almost a month. And what I’ve been believing for is the best possible outcome. That’s what I always want to believe for. So let’s all agree to allow no one to put any “wet blankets” on our faith. Can those dry bones live? Yes, they can! They are not dead, they are but sleeping.