In Luke 11, Jesus asks,
“What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?” (11:11-12)
Simple enough to understand, but what’s his point?
“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (11:13)
Here’s a thought worth chewing on throughout the day: could it be that sometimes I think I’m asking my heavenly Father for a fish when, in reality, I’m requesting what would turn out to be a serpent?
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” (Luke 11:9-10)
Ask, seek, knock, by all means. Pray fervently, with every fiber of your being. But above all, trust. Trust the heart of your Father in heaven. Sometimes he says “Yes” and graciously grants us the desires of our hearts. But sometimes he says “No.” Sometimes, without even knowing it, I’m asking for things that could harm me. Sometimes I’m reaching with all my heart for the tail of a “fish,” not realizing that I’m inching closer to the tail of a viper.
Keep asking, seeking, and knocking today. But in every step of the journey, trust the heart of your all-knowing Father who is perfectly aware of the difference between a fish and a serpent.