Asking, Seeking, Knocking

Persistent prayer is one of those things that we all struggle with. Our culture has conditioned us to not only attempt to solve problems ourselves but to do it as fast as possible. When we’ve exhausted all other options, we resort to fervent prayer expecting an answer by the time we open our eyes. Sounds familiar?

Jesus knows the heart of mankind well and in His great sermon, He presents us with three commands that indicate continual action: keep on asking, keep on seeking, and keep on knocking. It’s all about being consistent, specific, and persistent in prayer.

Before someone misunderstands that all you need to do is ask, seek, and knock, and God will give you whatever you want like a cosmic vending machine, understand that we must keep in mind all of Scripture on the subject. John writes, “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” (1 Jn 5:14) This is not name it and claim it theology, but many of us are missing out on things God has for us simply because we do not ask.

The greatest invitation in the world is extended to us, and incomprehensibly we regularly turn away to other things. He wants to give you anything that is good for you spiritually, but you need to keep asking Him for it. He wants you to cooperate with Him in a relationship with Him. He wants you to depend on Him.

In prayer, you relieve yourself of the burden you’ve been carting around and put it on the shoulders of the One who can handle it. He works it together with His perfect will and gives an answer in the perfect time.

When you pray don't give up, and when you ask, you keep asking. And just because heaven is silent means nothing. You keep asking. And just because nobody has come to the door, you keep knocking. And just because you haven't found it yet you keep seeking, because God honors persistent prayer, and something's going to happen every single time.

Press On,

Pastor Brian Richard