“Good morning, Stan, how are you doing today?” I greeted him.
Stan didn’t respond right away, but then said, “Great question!”
“I didn’t intend it to be a great question, I was just greeting you,” I said a bit defensively.
“I know,” Stan replied, “but I want to make a point.”
“Go ahead,” I said with some anticipation.
“It is essential,” Stan continued, “but I do not do it often enough, to ask God, ‘How am I doing?’”
“How you are doing about what?” I asked.
“How am I doing in growing in my relationship with Him. He is the only one who can answer that to His satisfaction, and it is up to me to ask on a regular basis.”
“Do you do that?” I asked.
“As I said, not nearly often enough. But I can tell you that when I am totally open to asking Him, and totally open to hearing and listening to His response, I have a great sense of His love and kindness towards me.”
Stan continued. “God wants me to be in an ever-growing and ever-deepening relationship with Him. He does not force it, but that is what He wants. And when I ask Him how I am doing, He is eager to respond to help me In following His lead. Great feeling!”
“If it is so great, why don’t you ask Him more often?”
“Another great question!” was Stan’s response.
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And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. Luke 2:24.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for wanting me to have an ever-deepening relationship with you. Please forgive me for not asking you more often how you think I am doing in going in that direction. Please open me to ask and to listen to your response. And please, Lord, help me in following where you want to lead. Amen.