When I Ask God for a Reset, Be Specific

In 2 Corinthians 13:5 I read, “Look closely at yourselves. Test yourselves to see if you are living in the faith.” (NCV)

Nothing will be transforming until it becomes specific. I can ask God anytime for a fresh start in my life. But I can’t just say, “change me.” He wants to know what I have in mind!

I cannot solve any problem until I first identify it as a problem—and that means I have to admit that there are problems in my life. The more specific I am about what I want God to change, the sooner it’s going to happen.

Today’s verse reminds me to: “Look closely at yourselves. Test yourselves to see if you are living in the faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5 NCV).

So where do I need a reset? What specifically would I like God to change in my life to give me a fresh start? 

The First Step to a Reset

In Isaiah 43:18-19 I read, “Forget what happened before, and do not think about the past. Look at the new thing I am going to do. It is already happening. Don’t you see it?” (NCV)

I am a product of my past. Shaped by the good and the bad things I have experienced. However, I’m not a prisoner of the past—I can be free!

That’s what Christianity is all about. Through Jesus Christ, I can be born again and start a new life. Jesus makes it possible for me to push the reset button and get a second chance.

Here’s what God says about my past: “Forget what happened before, and do not think about the past. Look at the new thing I am going to do. It is already happening. Don’t you see it?” (Isaiah 43:18-19 NCV).

God doesn’t want me constantly looking at or dwelling on the past. If I’m always looking in the rear-view mirror, then I’m going to crash! The only way I can move forward is to focus on the present and look forward to the future.

The rest of my life is in the future, not in the past. My past is past; it’s over. I can’t change it, so I shouldn’t dwell on it. Instead, start asking God to do something new within me.

I may feel like nothing new is happening in my life right now. This is because I’m not asking. James 4:2 says, “You don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it” (NLT). Look again at what that says: I don’t have it because I don’t ask for it.

If I’ve never asked God for a reset in my life, then all I need to say is, “God, I need a fresh start. I’ve blown it. I’ve made mistakes, and I need you to reboot my life.”

This is the first step to a reset. I just have to ask God for it! 

Everyone needs a reset at some point—because life is hard, and we all make mistakes. Am I ready for God to do something new in your life? Ask him for a fresh start, and he’ll give me renewed energy, a renewed spirit, renewed hope, and a renewed heart. 

God Meets My Needs

In Matthew 7:11 I read, “If you . . . know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" (NIV)

God made everything. Everything I see and everything I can’t see. Everything on Earth and in the universe beyond. God is the source of every good thing. And I can depend on him.

As I depend on God to be my source for everything, remember four truths.

Every good thing is a gift from God. I didn’t earn anything. It’s all a gift of God’s grace. If God didn’t want to give it, I wouldn’t have it.

The Bible says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17 NIV). That’s why the third phrase of the Lord’s Prayer starts with the word “give”, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11 ESV).  Why? Because I can’t earn the things God gives me, they’re gifts from him.

There’s nothing I need that God can’t provide. I don’t know what I’ll need tomorrow or the rest of this year. But whatever it is, God has the power to supply it.

The Bible says in Philippians 4:19: “My God will supply your every need according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (NET). “Glorious riches” means God is lavish with what he provides. He has unlimited resources.

God wants to give me everything I need. Matthew 7:11 says, “If you . . . know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (NIV) It makes God happy to meet my every need.

God is waiting on me. If I have needs in my life that aren’t being met, it may be that God is waiting on me to ask! The problem isn’t that God doesn’t want to meet my need; the problem could be that I haven’t asked him to. James 4:2 says, “You do not have because you do not ask God” (NIV).

What or who have I been counting on to meet my needs? If it’s anything other than God, turn that around today. Trust God to be my source for everything.

In summary, if I know how to give good gifts to my family, how much more will my Father give good gifts to me when I ask. God made everything. God is the source of every good thing. I can depend on him. As I depend on God to be my source for everything, remember four truths. First, every good thing is a gift from God. I didn’t earn anything. It’s all a gift of God’s grace. I can’t earn the things God gives me, they’re gifts from him. Second, there’s nothing I need that God can’t provide. I don’t know what I’ll need. But whatever it is, God has the power to supply it. God is lavish with what he provides. He has unlimited resources. God wants to give me everything I need. Third, It makes God happy to meet my every need. Fourth, God is waiting on me. If I have needs in my life that aren’t being met, it may be that God is waiting on me to ask! What or who have I been counting on to meet my needs? If it’s anything other than God, turn that around today. Trust God to be my source for everything.

Christ is showing me the heart of God the Father. God is not selfish, begrudging, or stingy, and I don't have to beg or grovel as I come with my requests. He is a loving Father who understands, cares, and comforts. If I can be kind, imagine how kind God, the Creator of kindness, can be to me.

Father, thank you for Your Word and Jesus as my savior and example. You want me and I need you in my life. Please give me Your strength for today and remind me in little ways that I can always believe in, have faith in and can trust you in everything. This includes being the authority for my life, the source of my self-worth and my hope for the future. You have my best interests in mind. So I ask you to help me to embrace the way you’ve made me; my gifting and passions. Help me to serve and fulfill the mission you have in mind for me. 

Today, I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, doing well and making a difference in others lives. I pray all these things through your Son Jesus’ name, Amen. 

For a Breakthrough, Stay Focused on God

In 2 Chronicles 20:3 I read, “Jehoshaphat was frightened and prayed to the LORD for guidance." (GNT)

In a crisis, it’s natural to start explaining to God what’s going on and asking him for help. He wants me to talk to him and pour out my heart to him. But don’t start my prayer by telling God what I need. First, he wants me to focus on him.

When three enemy nations decided to team up against King Jehoshaphat and Israel, the king knew there was no way he could overcome those odds, and so he prayed. His prayer shows me how to start my prayers by focusing on God.

First, remind myself of God’s greatness.

Jehoshaphat prayed, “O LORD God of our ancestors, you rule in heaven over all the nations of the world. You are powerful and mighty, and no one can oppose you” (2 Chronicles 20:6 GNT).

When praying for something I can’t control, don’t focus on the problem. Focus on God’s greatness. The bigger God gets in my mind, the smaller the problem becomes.

Next, remind myself of God’s unlimited power.

“When your people Israel moved into this land, you drove out the people who were living here and gave the land to the descendants of Abraham, your friend, to be theirs forever” (2 Chronicles 20:7 GNT).

When I realize that God has all the power in the world, I can just trust him. As I pray, think of all the ways God has helped me, others I know, and people in the Bible.

Then, remind God of his promises.

Jehoshaphat reminded God he promised Israel that the land would be theirs forever. God has made promises to me as well. In fact, there are thousands of promises for me in the Bible. When my daughter and grandsons remind me of the promises I’ve made to them, it can be frustrating. But God loves to have his Word quoted back to him.

Finally, ask God for a breakthrough.

Jehoshaphat said of the attacking forces, “Punish them, for we are helpless in the face of this large army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but we look to you for help” (2 Chronicles 20:12 GNT).

I shouldn’t just ask God to bless my life. Focus on him and then tell him the specific thing I need for my breakthrough. Then I’ll see him provide as I pray like Jehoshaphat.

In summary, when frightened and not sure what to do, pray to the Lord for guidance. In a crisis, it’s natural to start explaining to God what’s going on and asking him for help. However, He wants me to talk to him and pour out my heart to him. So don’t start prayers by telling God what I need. First, start my prayers by focusing on him. King Jehoshaphat’s prayer shows me how to start my prayers by focusing on God. I need to remind myself of God’s greatness. When praying for something I can’t control, don’t focus on the problem. Focus on God’s greatness. The bigger God gets in my mind, the smaller the problem becomes. Next, remind myself of God’s unlimited power. When I realize that God has all the power in the world, I can just trust him. As I pray, think of all the ways God has helped me, others I know, and people in the Bible. Then, remind God of his promises. Jehoshaphat reminded God he promised Israel that the land would be theirs forever. God has made promises to me as well. God loves to have his Word quoted back to him. Finally, ask God for a breakthrough. I shouldn’t just ask God to bless my life. Focus on him and then tell him the specific thing I need for my breakthrough. Then I’ll see how he provides.

In this passage, when the nation was faced with disaster, King Jehoshaphat called upon the people to get serious with God by going without food (fasting) for a designated time. By separating themselves from the daily routine of food preparation and eating, they could devote that extra time to considering their sin and praying to God for help. Hunger pangs would help to reinforce their feelings of penitence and remind them of their weakness and their dependence upon God. 

Father, thank you for Your Word and Jesus as my savior and example. You want me and I need you in my life. Please give me Your strength for today and remind me in little ways that I can always believe in, have faith in and can trust you in everything. This includes being the authority for my life, the source of my self-worth and my hope for the future. You have my best interests in mind. So I ask you to help me to embrace the way you’ve made me; my gifting and passions. Help me to serve and fulfill the mission you have in mind for me. 

Today, I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, doing well and making a difference in others lives. I pray all these things through your Son Jesus’ name, Amen. 

To Get Healing, Ask God for Help

In John 16:23-24 I read, “Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete." (NIV)

If I need something in my life healed or restored, I need to first humble myself and then admit I’m not in control. I can’t do it on my own!

Then ask God for help. How do I do that? “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face . . . then I will hear from heaven” (2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV).

I’m not waiting on God. He’s always been waiting on me! Whatever I’ve wanted restored in my life, I need to be praying about it. Have I asked God for that kind of help? He is waiting for me to ask. And he knows even better than I do what I need.

A lot of people know they should pray for healing in their mind or their body or their marriage. But they don’t know how to pray.

“Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete” (John 16:23-24 NIV).

That verse tells me how to pray for healing:

Remember Jesus wants me to ask. God wants me to ask for anything in prayer because that’s the only way I’m going to learn how to trust him.

Ask in Jesus’ name. In other words, ask on the basis of what Jesus did on the cross. He paid for everything I needed. There is power in Jesus’ name because it carries the full weight of God’s grace and redemptive love.

Keep on praying till God tells me to stop. Don’t pray one time and say, “Well, forget that.” Keep praying, believing God’s timing is perfect. God is responsible for the answer. I’m responsible to ask.

Joy does not come from getting what I ask God for. Joy comes in asking, believing, and thanking God, however he answers. Joy comes from trusting God to use my pain to make me more like him, knowing I will one day be fully restored with him in heaven.

Pray, remembering these three things. Even in my pain, God will give me more joy in the journey of following him than I could ever imagine!

In summary, the Father will give me whatever I ask in Jesus’ name. Ask and I'll receive, and your joy will be complete. If I need something healed or restored, I need to first humble myself and then admit I’m not in control. Then ask God for help. I’m not waiting on God. He’s always been waiting on me! He is waiting for me to ask. And he knows even better than I do what I need. Remember Jesus wants me to ask. God wants me to ask for anything in prayer because that’s the only way I’m going to learn how to trust him. Ask in Jesus’ name. Ask on the basis of what Jesus did on the cross. He paid for everything I needed. There is power in Jesus’ name because it carries the full weight of God’s grace and redemptive love. Keep on praying till God tells me to stop. Don’t pray one time and say, “Well, forget that.” Believe that God’s timing is perfect. God is responsible for the answer. I’m responsible to ask. Joy does not come from getting what I ask God for. Joy comes in asking, believing, and thanking God, however he answers. Joy comes from trusting God to use my pain to make me more like him, knowing I will one day be fully restored with him in heaven. Even in my pain, God will give me more joy in the journey of following him than I could ever imagine!

Jesus was talking about a new relationship between the believer and God. Previously, people approached God through priests. After Jesus' resurrection, any believer could approach God directly. A new day has dawned and now all believers are priests, talking with God personally and directly. I can approach God, not because of my own merit, but because Jesus, my great High Priest, has made me acceptable to God.

Father, thank you for Your Word and Jesus as my savior and example. You want me and I need you in my life. Please give me Your strength for today and remind me in little ways that I can always believe in, have faith in and can trust you in everything. This includes being the authority for my life, the source of my self-worth and my hope for the future. You have my best interests in mind. So I ask you to help me to embrace the way you’ve made me; my gifting and passions. Help me to serve and fulfill the mission you have in mind for me. 

Today, I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, doing well and making a difference in others lives (including my job.) I pray all these things through your Son Jesus’ name, Amen.