⁹If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, ¹⁰even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.

Psalm 139:9-10

She was a daughter of the King. Her crown was in place, maybe just a bit crooked. The last few months had been tough so she took a rest by the sea. After all, He said even if she goes to the farthest ocean he would guide and support her. So she took Him at His word and set out.

One afternoon, while sitting by the sea, she wandered into the water. The day hadn’t been a good shelling day and she did love shells. So she prayed, “Jesus, can’t you send me just ONE conch shell?” After all, this beach often provided dozens!

Reaching down into the water, lifting out whatever came to her feet, she drew up a handful of shells. In her hand, there lay a conch shell. But it wasn’t colorful or shiny, rather worn white and dull by years of exposure to the salt, sand and sun. She immediately thought, “Well, you could have sent a pretty one!”

Just that quickly she heard His reply, “You didn’t ask for a pretty one.”

How often have I asked for something and, after receiving it, thought the very same thing … wishing for something different, wishing I had been more specific?

What does this say to you? How does Jesus want you to be more specific in what you ask for in prayer?

⁴Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.

Psalm 37:4

¹⁴And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. ¹⁵And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.

1 John 5:14-15

Jesus often asked questions that seemed obvious. Yet he still asked the question. Join me this week as we explore the questions of Jesus. What do they teach you? How do his questions expose what is truly in my heart?