When I was growing up I didn’t like to ask for many things. Probably because the family finances were often stretched, or I didn’t want to be disappointed if what I asked for didn’t eventuate. This hesitancy to ask unfortunately carried over into my adult life, and relationships with both people and God. We can think it is easier to go through life not asking anyone for anything, but that would mean that we are primarily dependant only upon our own limited resources, when God wants us to know we can ask of Him.
Jesus said, “And I say to you ask, and it shall be given to you; seek and you shall find; knock, and I shall be open to you.” (Matthew 7:7-8)
We aren’t meant to do life alone, or only in our own strength. God wants us instead to:
1. Ask – Asking is verbal and God wants us to use our mouths to petition Him for what we are asking for. He wants us to ask so that He can be the ultimate source of our provision. When we go to His word and find the answers through what He has promised, God clearly states, “ask and you will receive.” Jesus said, “until now you have asked for nothing in my name; ask and you will receive so that your joy may be made full.” (John 16:24) Asking in prayer is how we communicate our needs and desires to God.
“And all thing you ask in prayer, believing you will receive.” (Mathew 21:22)
“Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.” (James 4:2)
2. Seek – Seeking is more than asking; it is a setting of priorities and a focusing of the heart. What is it that we are to be seeking? It is God Himself, and His way of doing things. (Matthew 6:33)
The bible says those who seek the Lord lack no good thing (Psalm 27:8) In fact God encourages us to seek Him and His strength, to seek His presence continually, and that when we do with our whole hearts we will be blessed. (Psalm 34:10; 105:4; 119:2). God is not hiding, and when we pay attention with all our hearts, minds and strength we will find Him.
3. Knock – To knock involves physical movement, where we take action. Asking and seeking are not complete without knocking. We can ask and seek God, but if we do not “put wheels on our faith” in what we have sought and asked God for, it can all come to nothing.
When Jesus said knock and the door will be opened to you he was telling us that action for the thing desired is necessary. (Matthew 7:7) If a person needs something that is behind a door, the most natural things to do is knock. It’s an invitation to come to God and ask in faith.
God says we can come boldly to His throne of grace to find grace and mercy in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:16) We “knock”, as a way of saying, “I’m acting in faith, bringing my requests to you, and I honour you as I come before your court.” We actively approach God knowing His will because we’ve sought Him, and as a result God promises to release the supernatural ability of heaven on our behalf.
Jesus said, “Ask, seek, and knock. These commands are followed by fantastic promises, “for when we ask we receive, when we seek we find, and when we knock the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)
Prayer: Lord please help me understand that you want me to ask, seek and to knock so that all of heaven resources will be made available to me. Today I choose to ask, seek, and knock. In Jesus Name Amen.
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