“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7

Have you ever wanted something, but you were afraid to seek the help necessary to get it?

Jesus in this passage says there is no need to be afraid of inquiring. God will provide what you need. This sentiment is reflected all through the bible. In the beloved 23rd psalm it says “I shall not want”. Jesus in Matthew 7:7 reminds us that prayer, persistence, and faith are important disciplines in our spiritual journey.

Many times we ask, seek and knock, but what comes, is not what we expected, or envisioned and we reject what God has sent. It is like the man who was drowning and asked the Lord to save him. You all know the story, I am sure. A boat came, he did not take it, a helicopter came he did not take it a large ship came, he did not go on it either. When he died and went to heaven he asked God why God did not save him. God said I came for you three times and you rejected me.

Jesus encourages us to approach God with our needs and desires and we must be open to how God responds. We must be open to the possibilities. Les Brown says it is better to be prepared for an opportunity and not have one, than to have an opportunity and not be prepared. Preparedness speaks to an openness that in life which as the people say, any game can play. We must be open and read the game as we play so we respond appropriately. You know how it is, you are only sure of your responses as that anything else is outside of your control.

Ask, seek, and knock shows us progressively deepening our relationship with God. Each action is a deeper level of commitment and effort in our pursuit of divine connection.

Firstly asking is putting our desires into word in an open and honest way, acknowledging our dependence on God. In asking we also acknowledge our fears and insecurities, as well as our hopes. The possibilities lie in God who is always listening and who promises that if you ask you will receive.

Next as we seek we actively search for God’s presence and guidance in our lives. Seeking implies a desire to understand God’s will and to grow in our faith. To discern what God is saying in our varied experiences. As we do so we find God’s answer.
Knocking implies that we never give up. We are persistent and determination. But we must be willing to take bold steps and to not be discouraged. God’s grace and the door will eventually open to bigger and better things. All this time God never leaves us and we take comfort that we will receive God’s full blessing.
God’s promise of “it will be given to you”, “you will find”, and “it will be opened to you” reassures us of God’s faithfulness. God’s wants a good life for us. God wants us to feel blessed. God wants us to understand that our efforts in seeking Him are never in vain. But we have to be open to the possibility that how God responds, and how the promise unfolds may not be how we thought it would happen. Despite our disappointment, we have to trust God’s game plan and be prepared for all eventualities. We trust in God as as the strength of God pilots us. The power of God preserves us. the wisdom of God instructs us. the hand of God protects us. the way of God directs us; the shield of God defend us; the host of God guard us against the snares of evil and the temptations of the world. Where God is all is well all will be well all manner of things will be well.