One of my earliest childhood memories is when I was taught to use those magic words – “thank you” and “please”. In my blog post titled “Gratitude” I have written about the importance of expressing thanks and experiencing gratitude. Asking properly is equally important.
Saying please isn’t just the polite thing to do. It changes an order into a request. “Pass the butter,” is an order – “Please pass the butter,” is a request. During our 50 years of marriage, my wife and I used the word “please” quite often. We wanted to ask each other for help, not order each other around. It may sound like a subtle difference but it made our relationship closer and it will improve any relationship including our relationship with God.
We are obviously not in a position to order God to do anything. We must ask Him but, like Solomon. we should ask wisely. “That night God appeared to Solomon and said, ‘What do you want? Ask and I will give it to you.’” (2 Chronicles 1:7) God was pleased when Solomon asked for wisdom to lead and rule his people justly. Because he did not ask for wealth or long life for himself, God gave him wisdom and those things as well. When we think of others first it will always bring blessings to us personally too.
Jesus told his disciples (and us) how to ask God for everything. “At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly and he will grant your request because you use my name. You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name and you will receive and you will have abundant joy. I have spoken of these matters in figures of speech, but soon I will stop speaking figuratively and will tell you plainly all about the father. Then you will ask in my name. I’m not saying I will ask the Father on your behalf, for the Father himself loves you dearly because you love me and believe that I came from God.” (John 16:23-27) What a privilege we have to come directly to God in the name of Jesus. God knows our needs and the desires of our heart, but He wants us to come to Him with our requests. We sometimes miss great blessings from God simply because we do not ask.
If you haven’t been using those magic words as much as you should, try using them more in all of your relationships, “Pretty please with sugar on top.”