BE ASKING

(a chapter from BE FREE:  A Love Story)
by Tammy Phillips
November 20, 2023

Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.(Jer 33:3 NKJV)

The Lord  said call, so I did, “Lord, why do you keep waking me up at the same time, 3:33 AM so often?

And why wake Gina, my praying sister at 2:22 AM? The Lord gave her this scripture.

 I will give him the key to the house of David–the highest position in the royal court. When he opens doors, no one will be able to close them; when he closes doors, no one will be able to open them. (Isa 22:22 NLT)

And JoAnne, my other prayer partner at 4:44 AM?  Holy Spirit dropped her this verse:

“You are my King and my God. You command victories…  Only by your power can we push back our enemies; only in your name can we trample our foes.” (Psa 44:4-5 NLT)

And Kristi, why had Holy Spirit given her a crazy dream about driving on ice and overcoming obstacles? And at the same time given me understanding to the dream’s meaning?

(The Lord also added Alli, Josephine, and another, Tammie Lowe to our praying group.  How he brought them in is mind blowing and words don’t permit me to share their individual stories right now.)

We know the Lord  was calling us individually and collectively to “walk by faith, not sight “and to dare ASK HIM FOR ANYTHING.  Our Heavenly Dad, Creator of it All, was/is teaching us all about asking, praying, and interceding.  He was instructing us to be asking, not just to ask, but to pray (ask) without ceasing!  Jesus said…

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! (Mat 7:11 NKJV)

“And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” (Mat 21:22 NKJV)

Repeatedly in the New Testament, Jesus taught the disciples to ASK.  We were newer disciples, and we have been asking and He has been answering.

The Lord says we “OVERCOME the enemy by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony” in Revelation 12:10-11.

Allow me to testify about the last two weeks…

1. ASK WHEN UNDERPRESSURE

We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; [we are] perplexed, but not in despair; (9) persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed– (2Co 4:8-9 NKJV)

One prayer warrior sister dialed in a “911.”  She was feeling very oppressed at work.  We stood with her and ASKED GOD to relive the pressure.  The next day at work Holy Spirit intervened and relieved the pressure. Thank God for short battles because some are so long.

“Again, I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. (Mat 18:19 NKJV)

2. ASK FOR FORGIVNESS FROM GOD AND OTHERS

“He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.” (Psa 147:3 NKJV)

I received AND delivered some relationship pain. The nasty spirit of offence tried to quickly enter, bringing a lot of hurt as a host gift. I stood as best as I could and  kicked his unwelcome butt out.  I was hurt. They were hurt. We were hurt.   I threw it to God because I could not handle it.  I asked for peace, reconciliation, and restoration.  I asked for back up from my pray warriors, but not exposing any details.  Within two days, reconciliation had begun.  Praise God!

3. ASK FOR WISDOM

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. BUT let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.” (Jas 1:5-6 NKJV)

The fact is my lifelong best friend’s daughter is losing hers sight.  The truth is we have asked and are believing for God to restore her vision. Healing has not been immediate, so she has to deal with the consequences.  This week she had to take a driving test and was very anxious. My friend ASKED for prayer, and we ASKED God to assist her daughter in successfully taking the test . We joined our faith and believed in God, who says, “You cand do all things through Christ who strengthens you.”

SHE PASSED and said she says she looks really good in her picture!  GO GOD!

5. ASK WHEN YOU NEED HELP NOT TO GIVE UP AND TO GET BACK UP AGAIN

 My help [comes] from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. (3) He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. (Psa 121:2-3 NKJV)

Six weeks ago, I surrendered my “weight room” to the Lord, again.   It is a door that I have open and shut to Him most of my life.  He told me in a dream to slam the door, but I knew I could not do it without Him.  In the world of instant gratification, I know this is a journey, but I can happily say after six weeks I am down twenty pounds.  All Glory to God.   He says in Psalm 32:8, “I will instruct you and teach you the way, with my eye on you.”  I asked and He answered.

6. ASK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE JESUS FAMOUS

“And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (Jhn 14:13 NKJV)

We pray this often in group. “Use us God for Your glory!” 

Last Friday, I was doodling in my Bible and a close friend of my husband came to mind,  Tina from Kentucky.   I love her, but had not thought of her in a while. It was weird, and I texted her the same.  I asked how I could pray for her.  (PUT ON YOUR SEAT BELT! This gets good and only God, real fast. )   She replied, “OMG! This is a God wink.  I am having a biopsy TODAY.  I could cry.  Please pray my spots are cancer free. Haven’t told family of friends.  Hate worrying family after we lost my sis until we know what’s up for sure.  WE ARE DRIVING THERE NOW!  Love you!”

 I texted her this prayer:  “Wow! Go God! You are amazing and we love you so! In the name of Jesus! We declare that XXX spots ARE NOTHING…just a blip of fear. We overcome the negative blips by the blood of the Lamb that was shed in Jesus beating and death on the cross! He paid for our healing with his blood. Period and then end! We declare ever cell in her body whole, healed and complete in the name of Jesus, name above every name. Amen!!!

The very next Tuesday, we got this text:  “Thank you so much for your prayers!!!! Praise God, I’m good!! No cancer!! Just precancer that can be easily fixed. Thank you!!! What a powerful God moment?!”

6. ASK FOR ANYTHING BECAUSE HE IS EVERYTHING

“If you ask anything in My name, I will do [it]. (Jhn 14:14 NKJV)

In Prayer group just this past Thursday each of  recalled how God had faithfully and miraculously given us all our homes.  We were amazed when we put all the stories together.   Three of us were gifted houses that were over our budget and beyond our dreams, BUT GOD.  We all prayed about each of our homes and how they could best serve God, He delivered more than we could have asked or believe.  One member was gifted her house by her son.  One-member experienced divorce, after we asked, prayed, and believed that there would be reconciliation.  Their marriage was being restored when a family event brought conflict and interrupted up the progress. In the divorce the husband placed their family home in a trust for their child. Recently, he offered to change the terms of the divorce and gave the house back to his God fearing, faithful, ex-wife.  Bam! Go God of impossible!

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us…”  (Eph 3:20 NKJV)

7. ASK FOR HEALING

“Yet he himself bore our sicknesses, and he carried our pains…  But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds.” (Isa 53:4-5 CSB)

I had a small procedure this past Friday where I needed to be put to sleep.  In Thursday  prayer group, I asked for a speedy recovery and no pain.  A busy an exciting weekend was a head, and I did not want to miss out.  I stood on the promise from Isaiah 53  that says Jesus paid for my pain, so I do not have to take it.

I had asked my husband on our journey to the hospital to make a few stops on the way home if I felt like it.  He laughed. Testimony! Overcoming!  I awoke immediately from the procedure and did what I wanted and needed to do.

First stop, “Color,” a great little gift shop full of breakables.  He  anxiously guided me through the store because the effects of the anesthesia were lingering and caused me to wobble a lot. Next, a brief trip to Costco, if there is such a thing.  Last was a quick stop by Aldi.  I had no pain and none of the side effects they said I might experience.  Praise God.

7. ASK FOR THE LITTLE THINGS

“Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” (Jhn 16:24 NKJV)

This was the “ask” on this past Saturday morning that that led me to write this encouragement.

I have used the same candles on my mantle since 2015.  They make me happy!  I always store them in a clear plastic shoe box in the same place in my kitchen.  I had emptied my Christmas cabinet and they were not there.  I had been looking for them off and on for about two weeks.  I had looked in cabinets, closets, drawers, tubs, under beds, chairs, and literally  everywhere.  I decided after a 2:22 AM wake up from Holy Spirit that I would look for them again.  I traced the same route again, opening and closing doors. I was on my knees after I had looked in the last place I could think of, under a bed.  I heard, “ASK.” Did I feel silly about asking the Lord about the location of twelve really insignificant candles?   Copying the accent of my Minnesotan friend, Kirsten Licari, “You betcha!”

I called on the Lord who never slumbers nor sleeps, so I knew I would not wake Him. “Lord, will you help me locate those candles?”  (A prayer I should have prayed two weeks ago.)

I immediately got up and headed back to the closet where I had begun my early morning search.  Instead of looking down, I looked up.  I saw a clear box of solid red candles.  I thought, “Nope they are not peppermint striped.”  I felt lead to look anyway.  BINGO!  It was my peppermint striped candles. My joy over flowed.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart And lean not on your own understanding; (6) In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. (Pro 3:5-6 NKJV)

Trust in the LORD and do good…feed on His faithfulness.  Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. (Psa 37:3-4 NKJV)

These are overcoming victory stories!  There are some “asks” that are still in progress.  There are some “asks” prayed in accordance with the will of God that WERE NOT ANSWERED the way “I” had asked and believed.  However, God is unchanging and remains faithful.

I am so thankful I paused, and Holy Spirit  had me write about the “ask.”  I knew He was working but just WOW, when written down!  There are so many more God stories that I could share from the past  two weeks.  I know why John said, “Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written.” (Jhn 21:25 NLT) I could write and fill a book of His faithfulness in answering the “ask” just from the last two weeks.

I enCOURAGE you to first ask Jesus into your life to be your Savior and Lord.  Ask Holy Spirit to fill you and empower you.  In every testimony Jesus  was allowed to be Lord of the situation and He stepped in as Savior and Helper, every time.  He does not love me nor my praying sisters any more than He loves you!  He will do the same and greater for you.  You just have to ask and believe that God is who He says He is, and He will do what He says He will do. 

PS…God was still not done!!! He had one more testimony and one more thing for me to do on Sunday morning at church.  Only thing, He forgot to tell me about it!!!  Holy Spirit Came without warning and asked me to step way, way, way out of my box.  Be careful what you pray!   (To be continued…)

Now this is the confidence that we have in 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 have asked of Him. (1Jo 5:15 NKJV)

And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. (1 Jo 3:22 NKJV)

Viva Magenta:  Live! Breathe! Be asking!