A kitten belonging to a Romanian pastor became stranded in a tree. To get it down, the pastor threw a rope over the branch and tied it to his car's bumper. Driving slowly forward, he pulled the branch down to within reach. Just then the rope snapped and the frightened feline went flying through the air and was nowhere to be found.

The next day the pastor met a neighbor. "You'll never believe what happened yesterday!" she exclaimed. "My little girl had been begging for a kitten, but I told her she could have one only if Jesus gave it to her. So she ran outside, knelt down, and prayed, 'Jesus, please give me a kitty of my very own to love and care for. Amen.' Just then a kitten with paws outstretched fell right out of heaven!"

Whether or not this story is true, it makes the point that asking is basic to prayer. Jesus taught His disciples to say, "Give us," "Forgive us," "Deliver us" (Mt. 6:11-13). But our asking must always be based on a desire to please God and to advance His purposes on earth (vv.9-10,13). James said, "You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures" (Jas. 4:3). That's why we must learn about God from His Word. Then our asking will glorify Him.  — Dennis J. De Haan