Ask, Seek, Knock

"For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened." -Luke 11:10

Some people who become Christians think that God is a genie:  ask Him for whatever you want and He is going to give it to you.  Then when they ask for something and God doesn't give it to them exactly how they want, they get upset, think that He doesn't care, or worse, think He doesn't exist.  The thing is, if they knew exactly how God operates, they would find that He always has better plans for your life.

In this passage, Jesus has finished praying and the disciples have asked Jesus how to pray.  Jesus then goes on to recite what is commonly known to as the "Lord's Prayer".  Personally, I believe this is more of a template of how to pray rather than the exact prayer that we should be pray.  After all, Jesus did say that we shouldn't "keep on babbling like pagans" (Matthew 6:7).  Often times when people recite the "Lord's Prayer", it becomes more of a chant rather than heartfelt communication with God.  For the record, I believe the "Lord's Prayer" is actually found in the gospel of John chapter 17.

I'll be the first to admit that I don't fully understand prayer.  It is one of the greatest mysteries of being a Christian but there is no doubt it has great power.  It is interesting that after Jesus gives the disciples a template for how they should pray, He goes on to describe that power:

"And I tell you, 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."

A couple things about this passage.  First, Jesus says to ask, seek, and knock.  Many times people (and I'm just as guilty as anyone) use prayer as the last option.  We've tried everything we could think of, now it's time to pray.  Prayer should be a first response, not a last resort.  James 4:2-3 says, "You do not have because you do not ask God.  When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."  When we need something in our lives, we should pray and ask God.  And when we ask God, it should be with correct motives.

Secondly, notice how Jesus doesn't say, "For everyone who asks receives exactly what they ask for, and the one who seeks finds exactly what they are looking for, and to the one who knocks gets the exact door they were hoping for."  Jesus encourages us to ask, seek, and knock but He never said we would get exactly what we wanted.  Many times we ask for things out of selfishness and we don't take the time to think about what would happen if God gave us exactly everything we asked for.  What if God allowed you to win the lottery?  Sure you would be rich but would you get lost in all of your possessions?  What if God gave you that promotion you've been wanting?  Would you still have time for Him or for your family?  Often times our desires are focused on being in the moment and not thinking about the bigger picture.  Luckily for us, God knows all.  He knows what would happen if He gave you your every desire.

Finally, Jesus compares our heavenly Father to earthly parents.  As parents, we wouldn't give our children a snake if they asked for candy, right?  Or if a child wanted some ice cream, you wouldn't throw a swarm of bees at them.  Now if we, as fallen and sinful humans, know how to give children what they need, how much MORE does our Heavenly Father know how to give us what we need?  So while you may not get exactly what you ask for, rest assured that the God of the universe knows exactly what you need and will provide you with that.

As children of God, we have access to God anytime we want.  We can talk to Him, plead with Him, and ask Him for what we need.  As Christians, we need to take advantage of this privilege.  Take time now to talk with God.  Let Him know what you need.