Prayer: Ask, Seek, & Knock

Do you ever get discouraged when you pray?

Ever tempted to not pray?

Ever feel like nothing's happening?

You're in good company.

I wonder if those thoughts weren't on Jesus' mind when he said:

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. (Matt. 7:7-8 NIV)

The past two Sundays we've talked about the discipline of prayer. We've been reminded that Christlike World-Changers pray.

Prayer is a two-part activity:
1.) It includes the praying person, or the PRAYer. That's you and me.

If we don't pray, prayer doesn't happen. If we don't knock, why would anyone open the door? If we don't seek, how will we find? If we don't ask, how can we expect anything to be given?

God intends for you and me to be key components in the prayer equation.

But prayer also includes...

2.) God (the Father, [to Whom we pray], the Son [in whose name, character, and will we pray] and the Spirit [who calls us, equips us, and intercedes in our prayers])

Listen to what Jesus says about the character of the Father:

Which of you,
if his son asks for bread,
will give him a stone?

Or if he asks for a fish,
will give him a snake?

We wouldn't do that. If our child is hungry, we'll give them something to eat. That's what a parent does. Well...

If 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! (Matt. 7:9-11 NIV)

Any inclination toward good that we have is because of God's DNA in our lives. He made us in His image.

And if we are inclined to do good towards our children when they ask us, think how much more God must want to do good to us when we ask!

Let's be at prayer today, Church! Let's be developing the power prayer habit of Matthew 6:5ff.

Let's be ready when God answers.

Grace & peace