As few verses back Jesus gives us a model for prayer. Here we see that he is encouraging us to use it. Prayer is not a once and done thing. Like telling someone you love them. David used that example in his sermon yesterday. He didn’t just tell me once that he loved me and figured I knew it never to tell me again. It’s something he can say over and over again. He can “keep” saying it, lest I forget.
That’s what Jesus is getting at here, too. Keep asking. Keep seeking. Keep knocking. We can only grow closer to our Heavenly Father with continued contact. We need to realize our need for God and consistently be building that relationship. We do that by asking, seeking, and knocking continually.
So what happens as a result of our persistence? Answered prayer. Will we always get what we ask for? Perhaps not, but we will get something that God wants us to have. If what we are asking for is not good for us, God is not going to provide us with something bad.
Jesus gives us an example of how we give good things to our children. We can be sure that God will do the same, and then some. We do our best at making good decisions for our children, but sometimes we mess up. God won’t mess up. His provisions will always be perfect. When God provides something different than what we asked, we have to trust that what we asked for would be harmful in some way, or that what we do receive will be just that much more of a blessing.
Having a right relationship with God is what we should all be seeking. It can take us a little time to figure it all out. We have a big task in stepping out of our own way so that God can get to work. When we are truly seeking God’s will for our lives, without any caveats or exceptions, we will begin to receive great gifts and clarity.
Because God will only give us good things, we can pray with confidence. Even if we ask for the wrong thing, God won’t automatically give it to us. He knows best. What we can take away from Jesus’ teaching here is that we should be asking, seeking, and knocking. There are so many opportunities in life we might be missing out on. We may be limiting our own future by thinking small. God will sift through our unrealistic requests. How we are blessed will ultimately be God’s gift to us.
Let’s pray. Lord, I thank you that you are in control and I am not. Thank you for all the gifts you give me. You know what’s best for me even before I ask. But Lord, I want the confidence to ask you for all the big stuff. I know you will provide only the best for me. Thank you for your patience with me as I grow closer to you each day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
