You.

Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. John 16, verse 24 a mother took her kids to a restaurant, and after ordering their meal, her six year old son asked if he could say the prayer. Everyone bowed their heads, and the little guy prayed. God is good, he said, and God is great. I thank you for the food and would thank you even more if mom get us ice cream for dessert. With liberty and justice for all. Amen. Customers sitting nearby overheard the boy's prayer and chuckled. One older woman, however, sitting in a booth by herself, muttered just loudly enough to be heard and said, that's what's wrong with this country today. Kids don't even know how to pray. Asking God for ice cream? How ridiculous. When the six year old heard her remark, tears began to roll down his cheeks. He asked his mother, did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me? She hugged him and assured him that he had done nothing wrong, that he had done a terrific job, and that God was certainly not mad at him. Just then, an elderly man approached the table. He winked at the boy and said, I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer. Really? Said the boy. Cross my heart, the man replied. Then the man nodded toward the woman whose comment had made the boy feel so bad and in a whisper said, it's too bad that she never asked God for ice cream. Sometimes a little ice cream is good for the soul. Naturally, the mother brought her kids some ice cream. At the end of the meal, her son stared at his ice cream for a moment and then, without saying a word, picked it up, walked over and placed it in front of the woman who had hurt his feelings. With a big grin, he told her, here, this is for you. Sometimes ice cream is good for the soul, and my soul is pretty good already. We shouldn't be afraid to ask God for anything. Like any loving father, he won't turn away from any reasonable request made by his children. He delights in doing things for us that make us happy. That is why Jesus told his disciples to ask, and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

This has been your thought for the day with Steve Burkham, pastor of Community Christian Church in Stockton, California. If you have questions or comments for Pastor Steve, please send them to [email protected] have a great day, and we hope you'll join us tomorrow as pastor Steve opens God's word to bring us another thought for the day.