Ask, Seek, Knock

In Matthew 7, Jesus implored his disciples to keep asking, for everyone who asks receives and whoever seeks, finds and the person who knocks, the door will be opened. I listened to an online discussion recently where three entrepreneurs discussed our relationship with the word NO. One of them said a motivational speaker asked someone, ‘what if you are one hundred NOs away from a billion dollars?’ The guy’s response was that he would start today collecting his ninety nine NOs so he could get that one billion. It doesn’t really quite work out exactly the same way in God’s economy, but often answers to our prayers have many meanings. I’ve been told before than when we pray, God’s response can either be yes, no or wait. If you have a deeper understanding of the voice of God, He may even provide an explanation for a no or a wait. 

Sometimes, no matter how acquainted you are with God, there are times when He may not provide an answer and all you hear is silence. Often, God’s silence is during a test when our faith, trust and endurance is being tried. What do we do when we pray and don’t get an immediate response? There are many times when I have prayed to know the will of God concerning a situation and I don’t get an immediate response. Other times I get a response as soon as the question leaves my mouth or even when it enters my mind. “For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ” ‭‭(I Corinthians‬ ‭2‬:‭16‬). An intimate relationship with God gives us some insight into his mind and heart. A good knowledge and understanding of the word also teaches us about the will of God. Nevertheless, no human being will come into a complete understanding of the ways and things of God. The bible says that while we are on earth, even prophets only see partially and know partly the things of God. 

This is because our human nature cannot fully contain or comprehend the complete nature of God. It is only when we strip off this mortal body and return to our immortal selves, that we will comprehend more of the things of God. “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known” ‭‭(I Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭12‬). Despite these human limitations, God still wants us to pray to Him about our desires. Even if the answer to a prayer request is no, persistent prayer will reveal to us the mind and the will of God. Eventually, God will help us to understand why he said no to a request. There are many times, long after I have prayed about something, received a no and grieved that thing, that I later realised why God said no. It is often after I understood, when I have gone back to God to thank him for saying no. When we seek Him, he will be found by us and he will abide and communicate with us. The presence of the Lord brings safety, security and healing. 

Most people want to be in the presence of people of significance, because they know of the benefits that this brings. God daily loads us with benefits and He is the only one who opens doors that no one can shut (Revelation 3:7). God will not hold back any good thing from us, so if we know that a door is meant to open to us, then we must keep knocking. It may not open at the first knock, but like persistent prayer, if we knock continuously, that door will open. “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” ‭‭(James‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬). A relationship with God gives us the boldness to come before His throne, knowing that we will find mercy and grace to help us in our times of need. We have to be clear about what it is that we want and then take our requests to God to get answers. Never stop praying, don’t stop asking and keep knocking until that door opens. 

“And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it” ‭‭(John‬ ‭14‬:‭13‬-‭14‬).

A.P.-Y. -Anneta Pinto-Young