“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, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 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 good things to those who ask Him!”
Memory Verse: “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” Mark 11:24
Today we look into an important aspect of the teachings of Jesus which focuses on ways of receiving. In various bible passages, Jesus encourages us to communicate with our Heavenly Father through prayers and make our request known to Him also. Likewise, we see in the bible various other passages which encourages us to pray, pray and pray. One thing is clear from all the teachings of Jesus while on earth to His disciples, there is really only one way to receive anything that can be fully appreciated. John tells us in chapter 3:27 “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.” Any other thing received from any different source has not been prayed for and may not lead to any lasting Joy.
Jesus while on earth was constantly teaching and preparing us for His time away from earth and in today’s teaching we see three types of prayers that every Christian should embed into their daily lives. Jesus teaches us to Ask, Seek and Find.
Ask: The dictionary defines “ask” as putting a question to someone or requesting an answer from someone. In both instances asking means we have decided that we need something we don’t have. The way, manner we ask and the relationship we have with the person we are requesting from goes a long way in determining the likelihood of getting a favorable answer and that request being asked about does not guarantee being received. The criteria for asking confidently is being a child of God. Asking a stranger gives a different result from asking our father and so if God is truly our father, then we can confidently ask Him in faith knowing that we can never be denied Mark 11:24.
Seek: Seeking is an aspect of prayer that we mostly miss out on because we are often always passionate about asking, however seeking is asking according to the will of God.
Before we ask ask, it’s important to know if what we are asking for is according to His will for our lives. James 4:3 tells us “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” Therefore, asking without seeking the will of God means we could spend the rest of our lives asking God for something we may never receive. God will never answer a prayer that contradicts His word. He has a fatherly responsibility and that is to ensure we are only able to have that which is good for us.
knock:
Jesus teaches us to knock, an aspect to which we also sometimes miss out during our prayer time. Jesus spent His time knocking on behalf of others and that’s the depth of love He expects us to show our fellow brethren. Our prayer is not only to be self-centered around our desires. Failure to knock on behalf of others is causing you to sin even during your prayer time which may hinder your own ask, 1Samuel 12:23.
Whiles you continually spend time in the place of prayer, I urge you to spend your time with Him wisely, sincerely and honestly knowing that He’s a good father and His response is always for our own good.
Cast all your cares on Him, listen and follow His lead and while at it, pray for others too and the nation where you reside.
PRAYERS:
- Father I thank you for another wonderful day
- Answer me speedily o Lord and send me answers when I ask, seek and knock!
- Forgive my sins o Lord and remember my iniquities no more
- Have mercy on me O Lord and receive my sacrifice of praise, IJMN, AMEN.
