It’s my least favorite thing to do as an author.

Marketing.

It feels so self-promoting and everything in me recoils at the very idea of that.

Yet, over the years, I’ve noticed that if I don’t talk about my books, who will? If I don’t reach out and ask about advertising or scheduling promotional events, who will?

The key here is that I have to ask.

Even if it feels self-seeking.

That same principle applies to prayer.

How often have we hesitated to ask God for what we really wanted because it seemed self-focused?

Or resisted asking Him for something we actually needed because it felt “selfish”?

James 4 is pretty clear about this. “You do not have because you do not ask.” (vs. 2 CSB)

If you’re a parent, you’ve probably seen this truth through your children.

Doesn’t it warm your heart for them to ask you anything? Whether it’s a tangible need or just some parental insight, you welcome their personal requests.

Wouldn’t you be hurt to think they wouldn’t want to express their smallest of needs to you (no matter how “self-focused” it might seem to them)?

That’s God’s beautiful heart toward us as our Parent!

He adores us and wants us to bring everything to Him!

Sure, He wants us to pray for others and stand in the gap for those who need us to, but He also longs for us to bring our needs and wants to Him without reservation.

Any thought of it being “selfish” is simply a tactic of our enemy.

The more the devil can keep us questioning whether or not our request is selfish, the longer he keeps us from having a conversation with our Father!

Why waste such valuable time?

I authored books to encourage people in their walk with Christ. Why would I want to be quiet about that?

The same holds true of our requests that may feel self-seeking.

We are made to be image-bearers of a Holy God. Any requests we make on our behalf are, ultimately, requests to help us look like, sound like, and be more like Jesus!

Why would we want to delay that?

“Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16 CSB)

Until next time, Grace and Glory!