Keep Asking!
Scripture:
7“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
9“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
Matthew 7:7-11
Devotional:
This weekend, we celebrated Mother’s Day with three moms who shared stories of being “in the middle” of waiting on the promises of God. Sometimes, when we are waiting on the promises of God, it can feel like we will never get out of the waiting period, like the Israelites in the wilderness waiting to go into the promised land. But in these verses, Jesus reminds us to keep praying, to keep seeking Him, to be persistent in pursuing Him for the things on our hearts.
He promises that when we are persistent, He will provide for us.
It’s not that we need to wear God down until He reluctantly gives in. He wants to give good gifts to His children! However, He will not just carelessly give us whatever we ask for as long as we are persistent in prayer. God is good, but He is also wise! He knows what we need and when we need it. We can trust Him because He is a good Father who loves us and wants what is best for us.
However, while God does desire to give us good gifts, He places this condition - keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking. Ask, seek, and knock in this passage are in the present tense imperative—“keep on asking …” or, “be asking, be seeking.” They indicate perseverance.
Why does He require that we persevere in prayer? There are at least three reasons:
It reveals our heart; do we really desire these things enough to persist in prayer?
It reveals our utter dependence on Him; do we recognize that we cannot meet our own needs, but should be relying on our loving heavenly Father?
It gives us time to align with His will; is that what we are asking for in alignment with His ways and His kingdom?
Response:
What is on your heart that has not yet been fulfilled? Bring it to God today in prayer. Ask Him for the desires of your heart, and thank Him that He loves you and wants what is best for you!