One of the simplest but most profound passages on prayer is found in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7:7—11. Prayer is an intentional, learned activity for God’s children. In this passage, He is quite simply showing the disciples the three basic steps for an effective prayer life: ask, seek, and knock.
"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. "Or what man is there among you who when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!"
Prayer is not only asking and receiving, but also giving thanks, adoring, and praising the Lord God.
Every request, every desire of our hearts, and every need should begin with prayer–asking God for permission, seeking to know His will. Because Jesus Christ has come into our lives and because He has now become our Life, we have the right and the authority to come to Him and make a request. (Ephesians 3:11-12, Hebrews 4:16)
God is always in the process of answering prayer. This simple message is the primary purpose of Matthew 7:7—11. Somebody may ask, "Does that mean that anybody and everybody can ask, seek, knock, and find?" No, because the Sermon on the Mount is addressed to the followers of Christ. He is talking about His own children.
We must be steadfast in prayer. We may not see anything happening, but a delay between our asking and our receiving does not mean that God is not answering our prayers. We may have within us attitudes of disobedience, rebellion, bitterness, or unforgiveness, or certain unhealthy habits in our lifestyles. We must be in a spiritual position to receive it.
We must be earnest.. If we are really sincere, we will not make our request known only once, and then give up if it goes unanswered for a time. That is why He says to pray, and to keep on praying, asking, seeking, and knocking. Persevere.
We must have faith. As we begin to ask, seek, and knock, something happens in our walk with God. When we talk to Him, we are building and nourishing our relationship with Him.
We must be patient. God’s timing does not always match our own.
We do not always like the answers that God gives. He does not say that He will give you anything you ask for; instead, He promises in Matthew 7:11 that everything He gives is good for us.
Matthew 7 : 7 - 11
"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. "Or what man is there among you who when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!"
(0503 25 II 2008)