The company I work for has an AMAZING Christmas party every year for its employees.  The doctors seriously go above and beyond to give us the best experience…from where it’s held, to the food and drinks served, to the entertainment, even to the gifts (or prizes) given.

2011 was no exception.

There were over 130 prizes available ranging from big screen tv’s and the latest electronics, to $25 gift cards and everything in between!!  Granted, there are several hundred employees, so the chances (although not bad odds) are pretty slim in getting the prize you really want.  Especially for those of us who don’t win anything.

Ever.

Not even for a free Pepsi in those twist off cap games, or a stinkin’ pie in the McDonald’s monopoly game, or even the highest % off coupon at Kohl’s.  What is that?!!

In anticipation of the party that year employees were given a glimpse to what might be available for prizes and the one thing I saw, just like the year before, that I really wanted was an Apple iPad.  I absolutely do not need one and there was no way we would EVER spend the money or even be able to afford one ourselves.  So I continued to pray each year that if it be in God’s will, He would allow me to win.

For the 2010 Christmas party, I asked my Mom to pray and her response was “No, you don’t pray like that.”  But the more I bugged her about it, she finally gave in and said…“well, maybe a little prayer.”

I didn’t win.

Then for the 2011 party I asked her to pray again and she said…  “I think we tried this last year and you didn’t get any of the big prizes.  So, probably not supposed to pray for good Christmas presents.  I suggest we just keep the fingers and toes crossed this year.”

The only thing that entered my mind at that moment was the truth from the Bible that says we are to pray specifically…

“This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.”  1 John 5:14-15

Now, I know this does not mean that God gives us everything we ask for.  In fact the Bible warns us to be aware of our hearts and motives…

“You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.”   James 4:3

But I also know that my God wants to bless us abundantly.   He takes great joy in and loves to see us excited, delighted, and overwhelmed by Him.

“The LORD your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.”    Zephaniah 3:17

So I continued to pray and ask for something frivolous and unnecessary, because my God is great and loving like that.

If it’s part of His ultimate plan, God will give us the desires of our heart…

“Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart.”   Psalm 37:4

and He longs to thrill us by providing even more than we thought possible…

“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us”   Ephesians 3:20

So… how did my Christmas party turn out that year, you ask??

Well, guess what I won?!

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. ”    John 14:12-15

Related posts:
God loves you this much…