“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 the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8 ESV)
Prayer is the means for obtaining what we need. We need to pray; and to pray often. We must be serious and diligent in our prayer.
Here Jesus teaches us persistence in prayer. Jesus does not; however, teach that God will grant us extravagant desires. We are to seek daily provision and spiritual blessing from God as we were taught by Jesus in “The Lord’s Prayer” (see Matthew 6:9-13). He expects us to remember “your will be done” (Matthew 6:10 ESV) from that prayer as we pray. Although we may not perceive an immediate response to our prayers, it is according to God’s will and master plan that all things work together for our good and the good of others. (see Romans 8:28).
As Matthew Henry commented, “Ask, as a beggar asks alms. Ask, as a traveller asks the way. Seek, as for a thing of value that we have lost; or as the merchantman that seeks goodly pearls. Knock, as he that desires to enter into the house knocks at the door. Sin has shut and barred the door against us; by prayer we knock. Whatever you pray for, according to the promise, shall be given you, if God see it fit for you, and what would you have more?”
“Ask” - we come to God in sincere humility and awareness of our needs.
“Seek” - we connect our prayer with responsible action in pursuing the true will of God.
“Knock” - we persist in prayer, remaining confident that God will provide what is best for us according to his gracious will.
God will open the door to those who keep knocking. While knocking, we must remember that divine delays do not indicate reluctance on God’s part. While waiting, we learn patience, and the intensity of our desire is put to the test. As believers, we must pray without ceasing and never give up bringing our petitions before God. God is all-knowing and He knows exactly what we need.
The promise Jesus makes is to everyone. God will answer each believer who prays persistently and earnestly. Only through prayer can we stay in constant contact with God and know what He wants us to do. Only through prayer will we have the strength to do God’s will in all areas of our life.
We are not to take Jesus’ words as a “blank check” - prayer is not a magical way to obtain whatever we want. Our prayers must be in harmony with God’s will - and we must accept His will above our own selfish desires. Only when we truly “hunger and thirst for righteousness” (Matthew 5:6) will we be truly satisfied.
“Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” (Matthew 6:9-13 KJV) †
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