This Week's Devo

All You Had to Do Was Ask

How Spiritual Vision Begins With a Simple Prayer

My youngest daughter has a very specific strategy when she wants something.

If I’m sitting on the couch enjoying a snack she’d like, she’ll quietly slide next to me and say, “That looks really yummy, Mommy.” Then come the eyelashes—bat, bat, bat. Her eyes move from me to the snack and back again.

If I don’t offer to share, she escalates the performance.

“I never get to have snacks like that,” she sighs dramatically.

Soon she’s leaning against my shoulder, cozying in a little closer, dropping hints in every direction—except the obvious one.

Eventually I laugh and ask, “Oh… did you want some, baby?”

She nods enthusiastically.

And I always respond the same way:
“All you had to do was ask.”

Funny as it is, I sometimes wonder how often we approach God the same way.

We circle around our needs.
We hint at our desires.
We wrestle with insecurity about what the answer might be.

But we hesitate to simply ask.

Asking for New Vision

As we grow in our walk with Christ, one of the most powerful prayers we can pray is for spiritual vision—the ability to see life, ourselves, and our circumstances the way God does.

In Ephesians 1, Paul prays this exact prayer for believers:

“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.” —Ephesians 1:17

Paul understood something important:
Spiritual clarity doesn’t come from trying harder or thinking smarter. It comes from knowing God more deeply.

When our relationship with Him grows, our understanding grows with it. Our spiritual eyes begin to open. Things we once misunderstood begin to make sense. Purpose becomes clearer. Identity becomes steadier.

But there’s one simple step that begins the process.

We ask.

Letting Go of Our Own Understanding

If we’re honest, though, asking God for clearer vision can feel a little intimidating.

Because deep down, we suspect that if God shows us something new, it might require something from us too.

Maybe it will challenge our comfort.
Maybe it will expose old wounds.
Maybe it will call us into deeper trust.

And that can feel scary.

But Scripture reminds us that God’s intention toward us is always good.

When life feels uncertain or overwhelming, He gently reminds us:

“Do not fear, for I am with you… I will strengthen you, surely I will help you.” —Isaiah 41:10

The God who invites us to ask for wisdom is the same God who promises to walk with us through whatever He reveals.

The Courage to Ask

Jesus reinforced this invitation when He told His followers:

“Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” —John 16:24

God is not reluctant to guide us.
He is not hiding wisdom from us.
He is not waiting for us to figure everything out on our own.

He is simply waiting for us to come to Him.

Not with perfectly worded prayers.
Not with spiritual sophistication.

Just with honest hearts that say,
“Lord, help me see.”

When the Filters Come Off

Many of us move through life looking through filters—past experiences, insecurities, fears, and assumptions about who we are or what God can do.

But when the eyes of our hearts begin to open, something beautiful happens.

We start to see:

God’s faithfulness where we once saw chaos

His purpose where we once saw confusion

His love where we once felt unworthy

The light of truth begins to break through.

And where there is light, there is life (John 1:4).

So today, instead of circling around the desire for deeper understanding, try the simple prayer my daughter eventually inspires every time she sits beside me on the couch.

Just ask.

Refining Reflection

Take a moment to read Proverbs 3:5–7.

• In what areas of life are you most tempted to rely on your own understanding?
• Where might God be inviting you to trust Him more deeply?
• What would it look like for you to acknowledge Him in those places today?

Trusting God with our vision brings a kind of refreshment Scripture describes as healing to the body and strength to the bones(Proverbs 3:8).

Like a cool glass of water on a scorching day, His wisdom revives the soul.

So if you’re ready for clearer vision…
for deeper understanding…
for a life less filtered by fear and more illuminated by truth—

Go ahead.

Ask.

This devotional is adapted from #NoFilter: Unmasking the Woman God Created You to Be, Jodi Hendricks’ award-winning Bible study on discovering your identity in Christ and removing the filters that distort how we see ourselves and God’s purpose for our lives.