If I wrote a check to you for $1 million, and Bill Gates wrote a check to you for $1 millon, would they be worth the same? Do you think Bill's check would be worth more than mine? It's true that Bill's account is much larger than mine, but actually, Bill's check would be worth the same as the check that I wrote out to you -- Why? -- because it's only worth the paper it's written on and the ink used to write it out.  The true value of Bill's check is only realized when you take it to the bank and cash it.

In Luke 18:40, the Bible says, Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, (41) "What do you want me to do for you?" "Lord, I want to see," he replied. (42) Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has healed you." (NIV)

Blind Bartimaeus was asked by Jesus, "What do you want me to do for you?" It's obvious that Jesus knew Bartimaeus was blind and wanted his healing. But Jesus asked the question to see what "level" of faith Bartimaeus had. Bartimaeus could have answered, "Lord, please give me a place to stay and food to eat, so I don't have to beg outdoors all of the time". Jesus probably would have granted his request, and Bartimaeus would have been fed, sheltered, and still have remained "blind" Bartimaeus. But Bartimaeus didn't "cash" the food check or the housing check, instead he trusted God with his highest and greatest need and presented to the Lord the "healing" check, and he received his sight.

During a prayer meeting once, a young woman in our church seemed unfocused in her prayers. I asked her how she would respond to the Lord if He asked her this direct question, "What do you want me to do for you?" She said that her response would be that she desperately needed a new job. I encouraged her to take her response to the Lord in laser-beam focused prayer. She said she would and continued praying. Within a few weeks she had a new job.

A check is a promise and the Bible has written many checks to us.  ...all things are possible (Mark 10:27); ...who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, (Ps 103:3); ...God shall supply all your need (Phil 4:19). But the Bible also wants us to do something with these "checks", such as ... come boldly unto the throne of grace, (Heb 4:16); ... Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: (Matt 7:7); ... But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. (James 1:6)

Why is it that we often will not take our greatest need to the Lord in prayer? Is it because we think, "my problem is too small for God to worry about", or "my situation seems impossible?"

The song says,

"O what peace we often forfeit,

 O what needless pain we bear.

 All because we do not carry,

 Everything to God in prayer."

Don't forfeit your peace, don't carry needless pain. God loves you and He cares about your situation; He cares about your suffering; and He wants to move in your life. There's no difference to God between a cold and cancer. So take your Heavenly checks to the window of prayer.

As faith without works is dead, so also is a check without cashing it worthless.

Remember: You have not, because you "cash" not.

The Bank of Heaven is open - so cash your check today..

Steve Ares
http://www.e-lightinspirations.com/