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7 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 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, YouVersion.Com)

Over the Christmas holidays my Dad and I were having a talk about this Scripture.  (Pause to give thanks for a strong, Christian family and parents who are inspiring leaders in their faith!)  My Dad was saying how this verse really challenges him because his “success rate” of answered prayers isn’t as high as he’d like.  I think that applies to all of us.

Of course, I brought up the fact that we read later in Scripture (James 4) that sometimes the reason we don’t get what we ask for is because we are asking “amiss”, or contrary to God’s will.  (then again, I’ve seen God answer prayers when the answer wasn’t his plan … remember this prayer that God answered “give us a King, give us a King ..”)

This morning I am meditating on this verse.  It would do us good to meditate on it for a long time.   Something peculiar stood out for me this morning.  Jesus doesn’t just say “ask and it will be given”.  He gives us not one, not two, but THREE ACTION WORDS.  There are THREE verbs together here.  This tells me that “asking” alone isn’t enough.

ASK.
SEEK.
KNOCK.  (persistence, right?)

Take for example, a guy who lost his job and needs a new one.  You can “ask” God for a new job all day long.  But I don’t think that prayer will be answered necessarily, if that’s all you do.

ASK for a job.
SEEK for a job, search online, scan the newspapers, ask your friends, post bulletins at your church.
KNOCK on some doors.  Ask people.  Interview.  Submit resumes.  Do call backs.  Do followups.

As we pray and expect God to answer our prayers, think of these 3 action words, and how you can apply them to that prayer.  I’m not sure that simply “asking” is enough.

Comments?  Leave’em below!