We tend to ask for what we wish; we tend to seek for what we miss; and we tend to knock for that from which we feel ourselves shut out. Today’s Scripture appears to point believers to the triple assurance of success when we stop to pray in deep sincerity. When our hearts are one with God, we tend to petition the Father in right form, and I believe that we will see Him stop to give us His full attention and response. Meditate with me as we dwell on the Word of God today.
DATE POSTED Saturday, 2022-01-29
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL
BY: Ed Algreen
SCRIPTURE FROM: Matthew 7:7-11
TRANSLATION: The Passion Translation (TPT)
BIBLE TEXT: 7 “Ask, and the gift is yours. Seek, and you’ll discover. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. 8 For every persistent one will get what he asks for. Every persistent seeker will discover what he longs for. And everyone who knocks persistently will one day find an open door. 9 “Do you know of any parent who would give his hungry child, who asked for food, a plate of rocks instead? 10 Or when asked for a piece of fish, what parent would offer his child a snake instead? 11 If you, imperfect as you are, know how to lovingly take care of your children and give them what’s best, how much more ready is your heavenly Father to give wonderful gifts to those who ask him?”
APPLICATION: It seems like humans just need the right incentive and they will show persistence in whatever their heart desires. While prayer is more than just asking for God’s help, it does seem to be one of the foremost reasons that we pray. I remember in prayer meetings being asked to just praise God, or give thanks to Him, without asking for anything, at least for the first few minutes. It was a challenging thing to do, for we soon enough got into asking God for His help or for His provisions. There was a great leader who taught us to seek the face of Jesus, and we will quickly recognize His outstretched hand in giving us very important items that we so desperately needed. A neat concept, yet we soon found ourselves petitioning for our needs and wants. My eyes were opened as I found the commentary shared in my introduction to this Scripture. For it showed me that Jesus was probably teaching us that as we strive to discover, or find something, we will keep on seeking. As we try to satisfy our curiosity about what lies beyond the unknown, we will keep on knocking, just like we do when we need to know who’s inside a room. If we ever received a response to our asking for something, then we will keep on asking. Behind each persistent action, there is incentive for us to keep doing it. Think about it, a baby will keep crying until we go and pick them up, give them milk, or change their diaper. I believe that Jesus wants us to have that same persistence, and in these verses, He is telling us that if we are persistent, He will hear the cry of our heart and meet our need. In sharing the example of our earthly father, I believe Jesus was assuring us that He is our heavenly Father, and He will certainly hear the desires and needs of our heart, and He will extend His hand to satisfy our needs. So dear friends, let me ask that you join with me in building that relationship with our heavenly Father, knowing that He will hear the cry of our hearts and meet our needs. I don’t know that there has ever been a greater time of need by mankind than today.
BLESSING(S) NOTED: No one every cared for me like Jesus!
PRAYER: I need thee every hour, most precious Lord. Please help me through these rough and stormy days. Covid, excessive crime, enormous unemployment, skyrocketing cost of living, and just knowing that someone cares about how we will handle all these things. Only You Lord can satisfy our very personal needs. Please give us strength and wisdom for the challenges of each and every day. May unbelievers especially see how well You care for Your own, for they truly need something that will turn their minds and their heads towards You. AMEN!