A.S.K. (Ask, Seek, Knock)
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be
opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Matthew 7:7-8 NLT
Prayer, intimate communion and fellowship with God, is how we build our relationship with Him. Every believer should have a lifestyle of prayer, not an activity we run to in times of crisis. If we do not have a habitual practice of prayer, we are uncertain that God hears us. Jesus tells His followers that prayer is not a one-time affair. It is a necessity of life. He encourages them to be diligent in seeking God.
We are to keep asking, knocking, and seeking with patient endurance. We have to ask, seek, and knock with confident humility. We should never quit or throw in the towel. “It is God’s privilege to conceal things and the king’s privilege to discover them” (Proverbs 25:2 NLT). We are called by God to be kings and priests, and that means we must exercise the actions of a king. If a king has to make a judgment or ruling, he has to examine the matter closely and seek God for wisdom. When the circumstances of life try to weigh us down, we have to call on Jesus. Our lives will never be without obstacles, tests, or trials. But the testing of our faith develops perseverance.
God has promised to answer the prayers of those who diligently seek Him. Sometimes we spend more time looking for a lost set of keys or our cell phones than we do seeking God about the matters of our lives. We do not need a formula to pray. We need persistence to continue asking, seeking, and knocking until we have the answers, the direction, the wisdom or whatever it is we need. If we keep knocking, the door will be opened. If we keep asking, we shall receive. If we keep seeking, we shall find what we are looking for in God’s timing.
Please do not take these verses out of context. They do not mean that if we beg and plead long and loud enough, God will give us whatever we want. These verses should be examined along with everything else God has said about prayer. We must ask in faith. We must ask according to His will. We must not have sin or unforgiveness in our hearts if we want to receive from God. We cannot pray with selfish motivation. This is not the “name it and claim it” gospel. The Word of God already tells us that we must seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness, and all other things will be added to us.
If we want results, we must have sincere hearts and make efforts that go the distance. We cannot treat our prayer life like a faucet. On some days, it is hot, on some days, it is cold, and on other days, it is lukewarm. We must be consistent. Kenneth Hagin put it this way, “I may not pray an hour every day, but I never have an hour without prayer.” We have to fight the good fight of faith, and we cannot be prepared for the battles we will face in life if we do not pray.
Reflection: Is your prayer life one of patient endurance or one of a quick fix? Ask the Holy Spirit to help you become more consistent and persistent in your prayer life so that you can get results.
Prayer: Father, I ask You to give me the heart to seek You for wisdom in every area of my life. Help me to recognize when I am praying selfishly and teach me to pray according to Your will. Keep me hungry for Your presence and do not let me be satisfied until I spend time with You. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Upcoming Connect 21 Events
- Sunday Morning Service (Jan 21st @ 10 am at River Ridge High School)
- Prayer Masterclass (Wednesday, Jan 24th via YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@linkedupnorth)
- Saturday Morning Prayer (Jan 27th @ 9 am at The Way Woodstock 109 Towne Lake Pkwy, Woodstock GA)