“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.”  Luke 11:9-10 (NIV)

Jesus was speaking about receiving good from our God including the Holy Spirit when he stated the principle of asking, seeking, and knocking. Over the years, I have come to learn the same principle after praying. I now expect my prayers to be answered because God is Good; may not be the answer I want or prefer, but when we pray seeking God’s Will the answer is very livable.  The paradigm for prayer is to focus on asking, seeking and knocking for the answer.

For example, how often have we asked our Heavenly Father for help in a matter and then sat back and waited. When nothing happens, we wonder how come God didn’t answer our prayers. We, like the bird in the nest that God provides food on a daily basis, need to learn the art of leaving the nest in search of the answer.  God provides food for the bird, but the bird must leave the comfort of the nest and search for it. We need to do likewise.

The principle of knocking is one that I have just recently began to understand. For many years, I would come to the doorway and knock at an opportunity. If the door opened slightly, I would then exercise all the strength and tools at my disposal to manipulate the door wide open, especially if it was something that I really wanted.  Now however, I come to the door, knock, and wait for it to totally open.  I don’t force it.  I don’t push.  I don’t seek influential help from others to open it.  I simply wait for God to open the door for me.  What have I discovered?  That when I wait unto the Lord, the door opens so sweetly and easily from the other side and the entire passageway is a blessing all the way through to the other end.  It’s like dominoes all falling down with very little effort from myself.

So next time you ask your Heavenly God for something, keep seeking for confirmation of your answer.  And when you come up to the door of opportunity, wait for the Spirit to open it.  You will be pleasantly and amazingly surprised by the results.  In the end our Great God, not us, is Glorified.

OUR PRAYER

Our Holy Father, Holy Lord, Holy Spirit – we thank you for sharing your life with us.  We thank you for revealing your love to us, revealing your favor to us, and revealing your plan of redemption to us.

Lead our steps toward fulfilling what you have designed us for.  Lead us to find the best solution to the events in our life.  Give us the patience and faith to trust you to open the door wide and reveal your Glory to us.

You are our hope.  You are our sanctuary.  You are our guide.  Help us to live your life through us and about us.  Let everything we do, say, and think be done for your Glory.