Day Seventeen
Ask, Seek and Knock
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
– Matthew 7:7-8
This passage has given hope to many, and to some who don’t understand the full meaning it has been a discouragement. I say that because I have heard people say, “I asked, but I did not receive.” What would be a proper application of this passage?
Let’s look at some of the other passages where Jesus talks about prayer. In Luke 18:1—3 he implies that the answer to prayer must be diligently pursued. In the Luke 11 version of this event he prefaces the promise with the story of a man who received what he asked from a friend because of his persistent asking (5-8). Luke then gives the “ask, seek knock” narrative.
The message seems to be that the asking is more than just including a request when blessing our food at meal time. It appears that the message is ask first for the thing you need or desire, then seek until you find the door to your answer then knock until the door is opened. When the door is opened walk through it to receive your answer.
James captured this concept when he writes, “The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]” (James 4:16 AMP). We can rest assured that God has our best interest at heart and that he will answer our heartfelt prayers when it is the best time and in the best way.
There are three major components to answered prayer. The first is the question, “Is this according to God’s plan for my life?” The second is obedience to God. The third is a commitment to earnestly pursue the answer. When these components are lined up we can have the confidence that God will answer. John writes, “We have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands” (1 John 3:21-22).
Prayer: Lord, help me to be earnest and diligent in my praying so that I will ask, seek and knock until the answer comes. Amen.
Message: The message seems to be that the asking is more than just including a request when blessing our food at meal time. It appears that the message is ask first for the thing you need or desire, then seek until you find the door to your answer then knock until the door is opened. When the door is opened walk through it to receive your answer.
Affirmation: I have learned to ask God then seek him until he reveals the door to the answer then knock on the door until it is opened and the answer is given to me.
Reflection: Give some thought to the three components to answered prayer given in this devotion. First is the question, "Is this according to God's plan for my life?" The second consideration is obedience to God and the third is a commitment to earnestly pursue the answer.
If you enjoy this devotion we would like you to have the entire devotional. This Daily God Walk devotional is in the Life of Christ series and is title, "Commands of Christ Volume One." You will receive the entire devotional, free of charge or obligation, it is our ministry gift to you.
Just give us your name and email address in the form below and we will see that you get your copy.
Ask, Seek and Knock
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
– Matthew 7:7-8
This passage has given hope to many, and to some who don’t understand the full meaning it has been a discouragement. I say that because I have heard people say, “I asked, but I did not receive.” What would be a proper application of this passage?
Let’s look at some of the other passages where Jesus talks about prayer. In Luke 18:1—3 he implies that the answer to prayer must be diligently pursued. In the Luke 11 version of this event he prefaces the promise with the story of a man who received what he asked from a friend because of his persistent asking (5-8). Luke then gives the “ask, seek knock” narrative.
The message seems to be that the asking is more than just including a request when blessing our food at meal time. It appears that the message is ask first for the thing you need or desire, then seek until you find the door to your answer then knock until the door is opened. When the door is opened walk through it to receive your answer.
James captured this concept when he writes, “The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]” (James 4:16 AMP). We can rest assured that God has our best interest at heart and that he will answer our heartfelt prayers when it is the best time and in the best way.
There are three major components to answered prayer. The first is the question, “Is this according to God’s plan for my life?” The second is obedience to God. The third is a commitment to earnestly pursue the answer. When these components are lined up we can have the confidence that God will answer. John writes, “We have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands” (1 John 3:21-22).
Prayer: Lord, help me to be earnest and diligent in my praying so that I will ask, seek and knock until the answer comes. Amen.
Message: The message seems to be that the asking is more than just including a request when blessing our food at meal time. It appears that the message is ask first for the thing you need or desire, then seek until you find the door to your answer then knock until the door is opened. When the door is opened walk through it to receive your answer.
Affirmation: I have learned to ask God then seek him until he reveals the door to the answer then knock on the door until it is opened and the answer is given to me.
Reflection: Give some thought to the three components to answered prayer given in this devotion. First is the question, "Is this according to God's plan for my life?" The second consideration is obedience to God and the third is a commitment to earnestly pursue the answer.
If you enjoy this devotion we would like you to have the entire devotional. This Daily God Walk devotional is in the Life of Christ series and is title, "Commands of Christ Volume One." You will receive the entire devotional, free of charge or obligation, it is our ministry gift to you.
Just give us your name and email address in the form below and we will see that you get your copy.
RSS Feed
