Ask and Ye Shall Receive

Today I came across again the following scripture:

" Or what man is there of you, who, if his son ask bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?"

I then had a conversation with the Lord that went something like this:

"Okay Lord, I am asking for bread and fish, so I am trusting in the promise that you will not give me a stone or a serpent!"

Later as I was making a long drive home, I once again reflected on these scriptures.  Here are some thoughts I had:

• I have felt like I have been given stones and serpents in my life.
• What if the stones and serpents are not from God, but the adversary trying to keep me from getting to the bread and fish that God has prepared for me?
• Man, I hope this bread and fish is worth traveling through a stone and serpent filled path!

Then I recalled some verses before the above scriptures:

"Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened."  

Thoughts:

• I surely didn't ask for stones or serpents, so they can't be from God.
• Psalms 23

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.  Thou preparest a table [of bread and fish] before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever."