Matthew 7:7
“Ask, and you will be given what you ask for. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened."
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
Five years ago today, my
niece Jasmine gave birth to the first of her three children. Entering
the world at a weight of 8 pounds, 5 ounces, with 20¾” of length,
Timothy Michael was a bright-eyed bundle of delight from the very
beginning. I’ve learned a lot of lessons from this little guy in the
last five years. But the biggest lesson God has demonstrated to me
through him is the power and truth of Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:7. In
many situations, I have asked, sought, and knocked…and God has opened
the door and answered my petitions.
I find it no small coincidence that just this morning, I read in Anne Graham-Lotz’s book, Just Give Me Jesus,
about the night that Jesus took His disciples to the Garden of
Gethsemane to pray. He begged the disciples to stay awake and pray with
Him…Jesus pled with Peter to wake up and sit with Him. When the
soldiers came, and Peter realized what was happening – and how dire the
situation was – he panicked and cut off the ear of the soldier, Malchus.
Lotz maintains that the real reason that Peter reacted in this
way was from his failure to pray. Had Peter stayed awake with Jesus and
prayed, he would have possibly had a better understanding of the
unfolding events. Had he sought God’s presence and wisdom, Peter might
have essentially “knocked at the door”…and God would have answered and
revealed many truths to him. This would not have prevented the
crucifixion, but it might have given Peter a different perspective and
changed his reaction.
I also opened another devotional book today – a recent gift from my mother titled Jesus Calling.
Today’s “message” was to look for areas where we need to let go and
leave things in the capable hands of Jesus. Boy, do I ever need to
internalize this message! If we could learn to ask, seek, knock, and
receive…then “let go and let God” have control, we would see such a
difference in every aspect of our lives.
Clearly, God is sending
me a message…one that is appropriate for all of us. We cannot find Him
if we are “asleep” or inattentive. We won’t hear from God if we don’t
ask, seek, and knock. If we will pray about everything, seek God’s
will, and listen for His voice, He will open the door and answer…through
a newborn baby, the daily events of our life, the anointed words of a
devotional or inspirational book or song, and certainly through the
fervent diligence of ongoing prayer.
When we stay awake and
alert for God’s voice…when we petition Him with sincerity, humility, and
persistence, He “answers the door”. Better still…He takes our requests
and desires to heart…sifts and sorts them to find the perfect match
with His will…and answers perfectly. It sounds like a simple
formula…but I can tell you firsthand that it is not. We are stubborn
know-it-alls who often think we should tell God how things ought to go!
But if we will surrender control… if we will ask, seek, and knock…God
will open the door and answer.
Where do you find yourself
today…are you “asleep” in the garden…or are you poised at God’s door?
Your answer could be life-changing. How will you respond?
©2014 Debbie Robus
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