THE STORY OF JESUS: Matthew 7:7-11
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7)
These are not instructions for getting what we want from God.
Jesus refers to ‘good gifts’ (v.11), and are in response to ‘good requests’.
In the Lord’s Prayer Jesus explains what the asking, seeking, knocking heart wants.
He has urged us to “seek first His kingdom and righteousness” (Matthew 6:33)
The heart that seeks God’s honor, kingdom and will, will get what it asks for.
The soul that hungers and thirsts for righteousness will be filled (Matthew 5:6).
But what about healing, or fixing my marriage, or a job to support my family?
Are these not good requests, why does He not always reply with good gifts?
What complicates this is asking, ‘good at what level?’
Jesus asked to be spared the suffering of the cross, a good request at one level.
But at another level, His suffering resulted in more good for more people.
For the sake and benefit of others, He endured the pain of His cross.
I suspect that there are good reasons beyond what we can see for our own crosses.
That God’s honor, kingdom and will are being served through our tough situations.
Can we ask, seek and knock for God’s honor, kingdom and will in our own difficulties?
This is the kind of prayer God always says YES to.
He will provide, He will forgive, He will lead us, He will deliver us… we have His promise!
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, teach me to value of God’s honor, God’s kingdom and God’s will as the greatest good in any and every situation. Shape my prayers so that I can be confident in Your YES!
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Not my will, but Yours be done. In tune with God.
Being a child of the Father, I need to live by the ‘family’ rules. We are one. And as a child imitates his earthly father, so I too need to imitate my Heavenly Father, doing what He desires. Our will, our desires need to be one. What is good for me would also be good for the ‘family.’ ‘Thy will be done’ also through me by my daily living for Jesus. I am not my own but belong to my Lord and Saviour and therefor His Way must become my way. In all I do and say, others must see Christ Jesus living in me. I am a Kingdom worker following His instructions for my life. Daily communications with the Father is a necessary ingredient of that life in order to do His will.
Lead me and guide me Lord.
Lead me oh Lord, won’t you lead me
I am tired and I need Thy strength and power
To guide me over my darkest hour
For just open my eyes that I may see
Lead me oh Lord, won’t you lead me
Lead me, guide me along the way
For if you lead me I cannot stray
Or just open my eyes that I may see
Lead me oh Lord, won’t you lead me
I am lost if you take your hand from me
I am blind without try light to see