“Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.”  (Mark 10:35)

God is not Santa Claus.  We have never proclaimed God as One who allows us to visit Him, even sit on His lap, and tell Him everything that we want, and then expect to receive everything in our catalog.  True, we believe that God listens to our conversations, but we don’t always get a laundry list response to our laundry list of desires.  We believe that God listens, and then He responds as He sees fit.  We’re not in control here.

James and John, in this Sunday’s Gospel lesson, approach Jesus very confidently.  What is quoted above is what they asked of Him.  In fact, I wouldn’t call it asking.  These two brothers are known for their assertive personalities!

It reminds me of the genie in the children’s stories I remember.  Usually there are three wishes that are granted to the one who possesses the genie’s lamp.  The reward for releasing this magical creature from his cramped quarters are these wishes.
We have never taught that God works that way either.  There’s nothing magic about prayer.  There is also nothing automatic about it.  Just because you or a group of folks ask for something doesn’t mean we will get it.

True – there are times in the Bible where God does seem to change His mind about what He has said that He will do – all because of prayers that are offered, so we shouldn’t ever stop praying to God (I Thess. 5:17). There seems to be about a dozen times in the Old Testament where God does change His mind about what He is going to do, and our requests to Him seem to be the turning point in His change of heart.  So, never stop praying-God is listening.

Just remember that when we pray, to think about the fact that God is already in those situations we are concerned about; He is already with that particular person or persons we’re requesting healing for; He is already watching over nations that we worry about their future.

Sometimes we pray in a way that it’s like we’re the first ones to give God this information.  Believe me, God is way ahead of us on all these situations.  Remember that!  “Ask and it will be given,” Jesus says (Matt 7:7).  That is God’s promise.  Trust His judgment.  He will do us right every time.  Just keep praying because He IS paying attention.  He’s no genie, but He is a faithful and caring God.

Remember, God loves you and so do we!