“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.”
Matthew 7:7, New Living Translation
Jesus is very direct in His teaching on prayer: Keep at it. Don’t stop. Come back again and ask again. And again. And again.
Why would He say such a thing? Is He teasing us? After all, some of us have prayed for years about very significant issues with seemingly no answer, just silence.
Entire books have rightly been written about this, but don’t miss this essential point: If you keep on asking, where does that take you? It takes you into His very presence. It places you in exactly the spot God wants you: near to Him. There, and only there, we find the peace and strength we need.
There’s an old hymn that sums it up well:
Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father's throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief,
And oft escaped the tempter's snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!
May this week find you often back at the feet of Christ for your requests.
“Don’t worry over anything whatever; tell God every detail of your needs in earnest and thankful prayer, and the peace of God which transcends human understanding, will keep constant guard over your hearts and minds as they rest in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7 (New Testament in Modern English, J.B. Phillips)
Chris is a graduate of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, IL (M.Div.) and has served as a pastor in churches in the Midwest. Chris and his wife Marty have been married for over 37 years. Chris currently teaches the Fundamentals of the Faith class and serves in the Prayer Ministry here at Faith Bible Church.
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