“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”  Matthew 7:7-8

Henry Ford was once asked by an old friend, who was an insurance agent, why he never got any of his business. Henry Ford responded, “You never asked me.”

Asking is powerful.  “It never hurts to ask.”  Right?

Here are some examples of “asking” that might spur you on in your own asking:

• At a myriad of stores I have been to I have asked the checker at checkout this question.  “Do you have any coupons at all that would help me today – just thought I would ask.”  It is amazing how many times the checker hands me a coupon.
• One time, flying home from Sitka, Alaska I was at the counter getting my seats for the flight.  I just asked – “is there any room in first class?”  I think my next question was going to be, “How many miles would it take to upgrade?”  I never got to ask that question though, the attendant just moved me there!
• Just out of college I had heard that Nike has a “Shoe Testing Program.”  This was all I needed to hear.  I ASKED!  Actually, I wrote a letter to Nike sharing with them why I would be a perfect candidate to test shoes.  It worked!  3 years I tested shoes and would receive new shoes every two months.

• My dad lives at a care home in Mt. Angel.  A private room across the hall came available.  We asked – and we received.  It was such a blessing to help my dad get his room all organized and cozy.

• In my last two Young Life regions we grew a great deal in the amount of funding received by Foundations.  It all starts with a “Letter of Intent” out to Foundations.  This is “asking” if they will let you submit a request.  You will certainly not get any funding if you don’t ask!
• One time I had a pretty “famous” couple in the city I was living in for dinner. Marni and I had a fabulous time.  At some point it came out that they had been to our home – “Wow, how did that happen?”  Answer:  We asked.
• Many times I have followed Ben Crane after a round down the line of autograph “askers.”  One time, a kid came up to Ben and just blurted out, “Can I have your hat?”  I remember thinking this didn’t feel quite right.  Ben, took off the hat, and handed it to the kid.  As we walked away, Ben said, “Hey, he had the courage to ask!”

This is just what came to my mind this morning regarding asking.  I can tell you that we have a 5 year old that I believe came to us as a result of hundreds of asking prayers . . . mostly by my sweet bride.

What about you?  What are you asking for?  What are you not asking for?

Have a great Thursday!

Eric Scofield