What Are We Asking For?

Firecrackers are a huge part of this festival. Today the procession includes the Kew Num (เก่วหนุ่ม)—palanquins carrying images of various deities through exploding firecrackers, sparks and smoke. The bearers swing the palanquins backward and forward through the explosions.

People light firecrackers in connection with hopes to receive blessing, prosperity, or simple answered requests. But behind all the noise are ordinary human hopes.

• Health
• Enough money
• Protection for our children

We understand those hopes because we have them too.

Read — Matthew 7:7–11

Jesus says: Ask. Seek. Knock.

And then He describes God not as someone whose favor must be bought or earned, but as a Father who gives good gifts to His children.

Today, imagine listening past the firecrackers.

Pray for the people underneath the noise that those asking for blessing would come to know the Father who loves them.

Father, let people who are asking for blessing discover the Giver.