Today's encouragement comes from Mark 10:35, where we read these words:
"Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to [Jesus], saying, 'Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.' "We can almost imagine our blessed Redeemer smiling, when these sons of Zebedee approached Him with these words (above). The Lord Jesus never rebuked them for their boldness and audacity. The Messiah later carefully ex-plained to them what would be involved in the actual answer to their request, should it be granted.
Our good and gracious God wants us to be totally honest and earnest in our petitions to Him. Even if what we ask of Him ends up being misdirected, this is no reason to be reticent in prayer. Let us come to our Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ with our real and felt desires, and leave the results with Him.
[Puritan quote of the day: "There is nothing in the world more uneasy than the heart of a wicked man made to listen to spiritual instruction . . . “ —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]
