Ask, and don’t stop asking!

We’ve all heard that the scriptures say “ask and you shall receive.” However, if you look at the actual verses in the Amplified version, it’s more than just ask once. Matthew 7: 7-8 ” Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened”. Notice how it says “keep on asking, keep on seeking, and keep on knocking.” This infers that you don’t give up and you don’t take no for an answer!  It also says that it is our responsibility to go to the door and keep on knocking. We have to go to the door. This denotes that we have some responsibility in this process. If my friend invites me to dinner in his home, I have to get myself off of my couch, get in the car or train, get to his home, and knock on the door. I won’t bother doing that if I didn’t have a friendship with him. Why would I bother to do that if I didn’t have a relationship with this person. In the same way, when we ask God for a miracle, for wisdom, for grace, for favor, for something important to us, are we asking a God that we do not have a relationship with, or are we asking our “Heavenly Father?” God responds to those that have a relationship with Him. Before you ask, ensure that you have a relationship, then ask away! He will respond.

Matthew 7: 7-8 ” Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened”.

Are you asking for this today?

In Matthew 6:11,  the Lord Jesus instructed us to ask the Heavenly Father to “give us this day our daily bread”. Note that it was God that authorized us to ask Him. Asking in prayer is not a bad thing. It is a good thing. Many have an incorrect assumption that it is bad or unrighteous to ask God for things. On the contrary, Our Heavenly Father enjoys when we ask Him for provision, wisdom, protection, love, joy, peace, salvation, restoration, etc. However, the scriptures do counsel us to make sure that we are asking correctly. There are some who ask wrong. James 4:3 says “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures”.  Always ensure that you are asking according to the word of God, with a pure heart, and that you are asking to bless your family and those around you, not for fame and personal gain only. Remember that God knows the motives of the heart, and if we ask in the right spirit, He will provide for all of our needs according to His riches in glory!

Matthew 6:11Give us this day our daily bread.