Does God often ask beforehand how someone wants to be blessed?

[Now You See HIM]

This is one of those "just wondering" questions that I've been thinking about recently: Does God actually tell someone that He wants to bless him/her--and then ask that person what he/she wants? Solomon immediately came to mind (a devotion related to this that I just found while Googling is at http://www.porn-free.org/Devotions/devotion_God_interest.htm), but I'm still wondering if the "asking" part is something that would be at least halfway normal. And, just to clear up any confusion ahead of time, I'm not implying that God would need our "permission" to give any blessings.

[cameron222]

The Bible talks about God giving us the "desires of our heart."

That seems to sort of fit your question. He already knows what we want before we ask for it and really does not need to ask us what we want.

Does that make sense?? :confused

[Now You See HIM]

That does make sense. However, I guess I'm approaching it this way: What if someone has not been asking for specific blessings--or even blessings in the first place? Might God try to tell someone, then, that He truly does want to bless him/her in an effort to prod that person along to make such a request--even though He would already know what the end result would be?

[cameron222]

It sure is possible. God works in mysterious ways. He is perfect in all that He does.

[Jany]

That does make sense. However, I guess I'm approaching it this way: What if someone has not been asking for specific blessings--or even blessings in the first place? Might God try to tell someone, then, that He truly does want to bless him/her in an effort to prod that person along to make such a request--even though He would already know what the end result would be?

I don't think so!

One must come to HIM b4 HE blesses them, MHO <><

[Patty T]

I don't think so!

One must come to HIM b4 HE blesses them, MHO <><

I think the question is posed with the assumption that the person receiving the blessing is already a child of the King.

[blessanna]

From my own past experiences I am very cautious when I hear this question "What do you want?" because I have found it was actually the enemy tempting me from God's plans. I spent years chasing after my desires that weren't in line with God's will because I kept asking myself what I wanted.

As a Christian I have learned that God's desires becomes our desire. Especially if we do as Jesus said and seek first the Kingdom of God. If Jesus is first and Lord over our life then we will want to do what He desires.

God has also blessed me in ways I didn't ask. For example, when following after my own path and I wanted to know God's path for me, He told me marriage. I said no at first. God changed my heart. Then I realized that through marriage God blessed me and healed me in ways I never asked.

I have also had God ask me what I wanted and when I have refused to ask I know that desire was not fufilled. As James say you have not because you ask not. Basically, there are desires that I had and God had but I had to agree with God in prayer and ask for them to see them come to pass. I have learned by God doing this we learn how to pray and praise God when our prayers are answered.

So if I am getting direction from God and then suddenly I hear "what do you want?" I'm usually skeptical because I feel that I am setting myself up for rebellion. But when I am struggling or in the presence of God and hear Him ask what I want then I try to remember to ask according to His purpose. For myself I have learned to simply value peace.

[Now You See HIM]

Good post, blessanna!

Even though I didn't overtly mention it earlier, one of the reasons I have been thinking about this is that idea that "What do you want?" could be coming from somewhere else.

P.S.: Patty, you're right about that assumption; I guess I should've made that a bit clearer.