for our God. Never be concerned that your need, or even your ‘want’ is so insignificant and inconsequential that you won’t (shouldn’t?) bother God. That’s just pride turned inside itself. If you have a need, don’t compare it to others’ needs – that’s not the point. The bottom line is that the Father cares for us and invites us to come. Specifically in Hebrews Hw says
“For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without [committing any] sin. Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment].” [Hebrews 4:15-16]
I’ve shared this verse many times, but the power of it never fades. In modern parlance, the verse is saying – “Come! I’ve got this covered. But remember… you have to come in faith.”
There’s a wonderful book with the title; ‘God is in the small stuff, and it all matters”. That’s the point. We are welcomed to come, all we bring is our confidence, no fear, our faith. Also, do you remember the verse in Philippians?
“Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God. And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours]. Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].” [4:6-8]
There is NO qualification. Come boldly. Don’t be concerned about anything. However, I do believe it’s our faith that is our ticket. We don’t come ‘hoping’, or wondering or unsure. How many times and in how many ways has He told us that it is our faith and that we ask according to His will and it is done! So how do we know we ask according to His will – read the book! It is our manual for living and gives us all we need to know.
I realize that we get caught up in not asking for the little things… but, I sometimes wonder if it is those ‘little’ things that are far more important to us than we know. We ‘know’ that God is concerned for us in the BIG things like salvation, but it’s the little things that tell the Father we really do believe. Besides, how do you judge what is little? It may be huge to someone else or of lesser concern to another. Not the point. The point is that we involve the Triune God in our everyday. I think that sometimes we forget:
“Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short That it cannot save, Nor His ear so impaired That it cannot hear.” [Isaiah 59:]
He loves and cares for us every moment of every day so He is always concerned with what we may thing is small and insignificant. …… I tend to think that coming with the ‘small things’ demonstrates our trust in the Lord.
