Can I Ask God That??

"Where do you draw the line when it comes to asking God what to do?" 

My friend's question challenged me and made me pause and ponder.  Where do I draw the line? I thought. 

Every Monday I make my routine trip to the grocery store. I don't ask God about that. When I'm hungry I grab a bite to eat. I don't ask God if that is okay. When the laundry piles up I toss it in the washing machine without seeking heavenly approval.

But then there was that haircut I needed. Hmmm....
For years I have gotten my hair cut at the same place - one of those no appointment salons. I finally found a stylist that cuts my hair the way I like it and does so consistently. That's a big deal to those of us who like our hair to look the same every day, every week, and well, year after year. I admit, I am a creature of habit.

Just three days before my friend asked the above question, I had been struggling with whether to ask God yet again, "When should I get my hair cut?" I had done this for years and found that when I followed the Lord's promptings I would arrive on a day and at a time when my stylist was in and there was hardly ever a wait. 

But for some reason I felt guilty asking this time. I wondered: Is it bothering God for me to ask Him such a mundane question? Am I being lazy when I could just call up and see if she's working today and which hours she'll be in? Why am I fretting about this when God has shown me time and time again when to go?

In fact as I sat at the kitchen table stewing over this dilemma a time floated into my thinking - two o'clock. Was that God? Just then my son asked what my plans were for the afternoon.

"I'm going to get a haircut." I replied.

"What time?" my son asked.

"At two." I decided to take a risk and check out whether I had heard from God or not. I looked at the clock. It was 1:30 pm. I gathered up my purse and made ready to leave.

My car pulled up to the hair salon right at 2 pm. I walked in just as the only other customer walked out. The place looked deserted. For a few seconds I was sure I had missed it. My stylist was not in sight.

"Is Greta here?" I asked.

"Sure. Have a seat." 

Twenty minutes later as I paid for my haircut, I asked Greta what her hours were. God must have been smiling as she told me that she had just arrived right when I walked in. I hopped in my car, praising God for His gracious answer to my need. He wasn't mad!

First Peter 5:7 (NIV) says, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."  Some folks might think it's bothering God to ask for something trivial (in their opinion) but I have never felt God was angry about any of my questions. In fact, by asking about small, every day decisions, I have experienced how much God loves me and how much He cares about what matters to me.

In the book of James we are told that if we lack wisdom, we should ask God for it (James 1:5) and if we do not have, it's because we do not ask (James 4:2). No guilt trips. No fretting. Jesus exhorts us to ask and keep on asking (Matthew 7:7-8).

So where do I draw the line? Right under the Scriptures I cited above.





20 comments:

  1. I will really like to pray about everything..I have lost a lot of money and time doing what I thought was God's leading.

    I watched your interview with Sid Roth and was touched by the Angel Michael part..I have had an experience with the angel opening my car with the keys locked inside but I will like to experience such manifestation again.

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  2. I love your testimony about an angel helping you get into your locked car. God is so gracious. Blessings to you.

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  3. Hi Jane I watch you on sidroth,and I want to thank you for answering so much of my questions,I love how you say you ask God about every little thing,I think that is what I a doing wrong,but thank God for you,can you pray for me on my spiritual growth.I really need to get your book on power prayer

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    1. I believe that if you follow the step by step instructions in my book you will grow spiritually. I would love to hear back on any testimonies that result from your reading the book. I pray that the Lord blesses you as you seek Him with all your heart, Yvonne. Blessings, Jane

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  4. I've just ordered your book, Jane. Lately, I've experienced following God on a smaller scale and in trial situations. I'm looking forward to growing in every area of my life! Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Praying about the smaller things is a great way to learn to hear God. Blessings to you, Audra.

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  5. Jane, I just saw you on It's Supernatural, and I'm so grateful to God for prompting me at that moment to tune in. Your testimony has put my new year on a glorious course, and you reminded me of all the times God has given me, either through dreams or visions, his design for me. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. I am hoping to purchase your book.

    And thank you for this post. How often most of us feel guilty about going to God 'too much'. Once I actually had a well meaning friend tell me that I shouldn't bother God so much.

    Thank you, again. You have a new follower.

    Blessings for a healthy, happy, and prosperous new year!
    Marianne

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    1. Marianne, I am so pleased that you enjoyed the interview and that the blog post spoke to you. I was starting to feel guilty, too, for asking too many questions of God. But the haircut incident cured me of that guilt trip. He truly cares about all our needs. What a joy to know our Heavenly Father loves us so much! Blessings....Jane

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  6. Greetings in Christ, Jane,

    I watched your testimony on Sid Roth, and it touched my heart. I never thought to cast my cares upon the Lord in the way you tell us to. Thank you for your wisdom, as this has taken my prayer life to a whole new level.

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    1. I am so pleased to hear that my testimony has changed the way you pray. There is so much more in the book - how to avoid deception, learning from mistakes, what to do if God is silent. I hope you will have a chance to read it. Blessings...Jane

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  7. Hi Jane. I used to hear the Holy Spirit and then I suffered from a mental illness. I am afraid I blasphemed the Holy Spirit and I have not heard His voice for 2 years. I am having dreams I am going to hell and I am cut off from God is there any hope for me?

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  8. Scott -- believers who are afraid they have blasphemed the Holy Spirit have not done so - that is a deception from the enemy. All your sins past, present and future were taken care of by Jesus Christ on the cross. If you have confessed Jesus as Lord and Savior, you have the gift of eternal life (John 3:16-17). Read through Romans chapters 5 and 6, also Romans 8:1. I encourage you to read Matthew 18:18 and bind the spirit of fear and torment in Jesus' name, and loose the spirit of power, love and a sound mind over yourself every day until you have breakthrough (2 Tim 1:7) Fear comes from the demonic realm. You must resist it. I teach how to avoid deception in my book. I hope you will get a chance to read it. Blessings...Jane

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  9. Where can I get your book and CDs I saw on Sid roth

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    1. The book, two CDs and Scripture based Declaration card are available at www.sidroth.org . That is the only place currently that offers the CDs and Declaration card. Thank you for your interest. Blessings...Jane

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  10. Thank you for sharing your testimony on It's Supernatural. You are a blessing. I used to hear God so clearly and have been praying to hear Him again. You are an answer to prayer. I've also been struggling with conviction that my kids are in daycare due to my husband and my work schedules. I enjoy my career and love helping people. It's hard to know when God is telling me to do something. Maybe now I can hear His answer.

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    1. Angela, It is never too late to hear Him again. He's been waiting for you. My book will teach you how to discern God's voice from the enemy's and from your own. Plus there is a suggested reading list at the back of the book for learning more about hearing God. The book teaches you how to sit and listen, how to quiet your mind and get rid of distractions, and many, many more topics. Blessings,,,Jane

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  11. how do we subscribe to get notifications emailed to us when there is new content?

    Thanks.

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    1. Anj - enter your e-mail address in the space on the right of the home page that says, Follow by Email. Thanks for stopping by. Blessings..Jane

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    2. Thanks, can you tell us what classes you took on hearing? Was it part of Beth Moore teachings ? I have tried to follow Mark Virkler's approach.

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    3. I began with Cindy Jacob's book, The Voice of God. I have read a number of other books on hearing God and practiced hearing in numerous prayer groups. I have not read Mark Virkler's book. At the back of my book is a list of suggested readings.

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