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Date: Jul 29, 2002

This word is submitted by Teresa Seputis (ts@godspeak.org)

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                       Ask, Seek, Knock


Child of Mine, I say you give up too easily.  Your society has become
a society of the easy and the instant and the convenient.  You are used
to having things presented to you in a convenient, ready-to-use fashion.
It is more common to run to the market and buy a loaf of bread than to
take the flour and the yeist and the other ingredients and bake your
own break.  It is more common to buy something pre-built than it is to
build it yourself.  

And this thinking has began to permiate the prayer life of My people. 
Many cry out to Me and I give them the wherewithall to effect the solution,
and they do not recoginze that I have answered their prayer.  They are
looking for the instant solution, and I give them My strategy for the
situation.  They do not recognize that I have answered their prayer because
the answer does not come the way they expect.  Do not be deceived, child
of Mine, for most of My answers will not look the way you expect.  

And My people have become discouraged because they do not recoginze My
answers when they come.  And they begin to believe that I no longer answer
prayer, and they stop praying.  They stop seeking Me. They stop asking.

But I say unto you, Ask and ye shall recieve.  Perhaps you need to ask Me
for the wisdom to recognize My answers and you need to ask Me for the
strategies to apply them to your situations.  Child, I will often involve
you in the process and I will require initiative from you.   Even when I
provided Mana for the children of Isreal in the wilderness, they had to
work for it. First, they had to collect it.  Then the had to prepare it.
Likewise when I provided the quail for them, it did not come down from 
heaven on platters already cooked.  Rather they had to collect the birds,
and they had to pluck the feathers off of the birds and cut it into pieces
and then they had to cook the pieces.

Child, why do you think My provision for you will be different than My
provision for them?  First, you need to expect that I will provide. Then
you need to recognize the provision when it comes. Then you need to take
the initiative to make that provision yours, to work on it and prepare it 
and take advantage of it.  Look to Me for the solution.  Look to Me for
the strategies to implement it.  Know that I am a God who answers the
prayers of My people, when My people approach Me on My terms.  Know that
I am able and that I am willing and that I will provide.  Recoginze that
My provision may come differently than you expect.  Be willing to work
with Me, be willing to put forth your own effort as I show you what to do.

Child, keep on asking.  Know that I will answer.  Expect My answer may 
involve you in the process, and be prepared to do with Me what I am doing.
Do not try to initiate on your own, for the works of your own hands apart
from My anointing will not accomplish much.  Look to Ishmeal as your 
example.  Rather, see what I am doing.  Do it with Me, in My power and in 
My anointing.  Know that I am a God who answers prayer.  Keep on asking.
Do not give up, do not loose faith.  Know that My heart is toward you and
know that I will provide for My own dear children.

Child of Mine, keep on asking and you will receive.