CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 684

“Given, Found and Opened”

Matt 7:7-11 (ESV) “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…
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In Week 668 we looked at this Scripture in light of the asking, seeking and knocking discipline of prayer. Another aspect of this Scripture deals with God’s response – His giving, allowing the finding, and His opening.

ASK – GIVEN: We ask when we have a need, craving, or desire. We don’t ask when our stubborn pride gets in the way. James 4:2a … You do not have, because you do not ask. Pride keeps me from asking for directions or for help. We should not blame God for not giving when we did not humbly ask in the first place. The flip side of this coin is that we do ask but with wrong motives. James 4:2b … You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. Sometimes God says ‘no’ or ‘not yet’ to our asking – not because we ask amiss, but rather because He knows what is best for us. However, God does give in response to the asking at this first level of prayer petition beginning with the most important gift of all – His free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.

SEEK – FOUND: Where asking stems from a desire, seeking is reaching to fulfill that desire. Sometimes God wants us to find what we desire rather than have it handed to us. Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Our first priority in this life is to seek the kingdom of God, His abiding presence and His righteousness. How badly do you want God’s abiding presence in your life? How badly do you desire the righteousness that comes from Jesus? Are you willing to reach to fulfill that desire?

I used to travel a lot in a prior career and I loved coming home to the cheers of my children and wife, ‘Daddy’s home! Daddy’s home’! Imagine how it would feel to come home and be greeted instead with ‘What did you get me’? Our prayers all too often are the seeking of material goods and the pleasures of this world without a second thought about God’s kingdom or righteousness. We ask and seek wrongly when Father God’s presence is not nearly as desirable as His presents.

Like roots going deeper and deeper seeking life-giving water is the process of seeking that God uses to take us into a deeper relationship with Him. We may have to go on several job interviews before He allows us to find the job He had planned for us. Through the seeking process, He trains us, gives us experience, and brings us to a new level of reliance, trust, and faith in Him. It is in the seeking that He allows us to find what we need to be equipped to serve Him. Heb 13:20 …may the God of peace …equip you with everything good that you may do his will…

KNOCK – OPENED: Where asking stems from a desire and seeking is reaching to fulfill that desire, knocking implies tenacity, perseverance and endurance in reaching for what is desired. Sometimes God does not immediately give to us for the asking because He wants to develop our character through endurance. Romans 5:4 …and endurance produces character, and character produces hope… Try knocking only once a door and see how strange that seems. When we knock it is natural to knock several times. Don’t give up on God. He will open the door when your character is developed and ready for what lies beyond.

Are you asking, seeking, and knocking? What is the root motivation for your prayer to God? Do you crave and desire first His abiding presence, His kingdom and righteousness or is it material blessing that you desire most? When we pray and ask of God we need to be sensitive to His leading to actively seek and to knock. We need to be yielded to the Master potters hand and allow Him to shape and mold our faith and character so that we may be fully equipped as we step in His service through the doors He opens.

Close in prayer, thanksgiving & rededication of your work to the glory of God.