Today’s Readings:
Psalm 17:1-7, 15
Genesis 31:1-21
Matthew 7:7-12
“Ask, and it shall be given to you, seek, and you will find, knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him? Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:7-12 NKJV)
Jesus in our passage of today is teaching us that persistence in prayer is the secret of accomplishment - asking, seeking, and knocking. The goal here is not to fix the time of prayer but rather a lifestyle of consistent prayer like the air we breathe. Even where the instruction given previously (John 15:4-7) seems impossible to follow; this promise is absolute. God will give us the ability to follow when we abide in Him. There is great assurance in answered prayers when it is presented in our relationship as disciples of Jesus Christ to the Father who responds to them in the name of Jesus Christ.
Although our prayers may not specifically be answered as we present them, especially if they are not deemed fit according to God’s perspective (v. 7), we should be persistent in pursuing God but we are often fed up with our prayer request after a few half-hearted efforts and then conclude that God is not answering our prayers. We should understand that to know and be intimate with God takes faith, patience, being focused, and follow-up. Jesus is telling us that when we do all these, we will be rewarded. Therefore, let us not be weary of seeking the face of God. Let us continue to make our request known to God and at the same time ask for more patience, love, knowledge, understanding, wisdom, discernment, and revelation of Him for our Christian living and He will definitely give all these to us (vv. 7-8).
Jesus used the analogy of the type of love between an earthly father and his child who asked him for bread and fish – good and necessary things of life to explain the greater love God has for us. If the child had asked for a poisonous snake that could harm or kill him, would the father agree to give it to him? Sometimes we ask for things that would harm us or derail us from the path of God. Because God knows better, He would not grant our request. And in our persistence, we become frustrated. When we begin to have a cordial relationship with God and recognize Him as a loving Father, we will begin to ask for good things that will nourish our soul, things that are not based on selfishness, things that are good for us and for others, we see that God will speedily answer our prayers (vv. 9-10).
In verse 11, Jesus is revealing the mind of God that, He is not selfish, begrudging, or stingy. When we come to God, we do not have to keep begging or groveling as we make our request to Him. We approach the throne of mercy, boldly but humbly. God is a loving Father who cares, is understanding, and comforting. What a loving world we all would be living in if we all could be as understanding, loving, and caring as our Heavenly Father.
OLUFUNMILAYO TITILOLA ADEKUSIBE
Prayers:
Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world.
Even from everlasting to everlasting You are God.
Thank you, God, for help in ages past and our hope for years to come, in Jesus' name.
Day by day dear Lord grant that I see You more clearly, love You more dearly, and follow You more closely, in Jesus' name.
O Lord, create in me a pure heart, renew a right, humble, and teachable spirit in me, in Jesus' name.
Lord, grant me the power, the enablement to pray to the point of breakthrough, in Jesus' name.
Lord, visit Christian homes that are on the verge of collapsing with your mighty power; heal, deliver, and repair, in Jesus' name.
Our heavenly Father, we present our children, youths, and young adults, before your throne of mercy, keep them as the apple of Your eye, and align them to your paths of righteousness to the glory of Your holy name, in Jesus' name.
O Lord, align our leaders along the path of Your plan for our nation and give them the boldness to do Your bidding, in Jesus' name.
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