Ask, Seek, and Knock
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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Matthew 7:7-8
If we pray and ask the Lord for what we need, then he hears and answers our prayers. All prayer should be for the glory of God and we should trust his answer. The Lord may call us to do something and we decline because we don’t feel qualified. Maybe, we are not currently qualified in our own strength. But if we pray for the Lord’s help in fulfilling his will, then he will guide us to develop the skills. If we serve the Lord strictly based on our own talents and strengths, then we are limiting what the Lord can do through us.
When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. (James 4:3) It’s important that we have the attitude that our will is to do the Lord’s will. If we pray for more wisdom, peace, joy, and faith, the Lord will answer our prayer because what we pray for the Lord’s wants us to have. Therefore, if you want peace, pray for peace, if you want wisdom, pray for wisdom, if you want the Lord’s words for ministry, pray for his words.
But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. (James 1:6) When we pray asking the Lord for help and guidance, we must pray with faith knowing he will answer our prayer. If we doubt, we are telling the Lord that we don’t fully trust is ways and his timing. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.(Hebrews 11:6) The Lord will respond to those that earnestly seek him. We earnestly seek the Lord when we fully depend on him, when we are praying for his glory, and when we know he will answer our prayer based on his divine understanding.
Today ask, seek, and knock, for the Lord’s help and guidance. It is always helpful to pray in accordance to the Lord’s promises given in the Word. Pray with full faith and dependence on the Lord and overcome doubt by fully trusting his answer.
Prayer: Lord, guide me in the Spirit to seek your guidance and wisdom, especially when ministering to others. Take away any doubt so I can fully trust you. In Jesus’ name, Amen