Discover FaithSample

Ask

Luke 11:9| “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”

In our culture we like immediate results. If a webpage takes too long to load, we’re upset at our web service. If we’re waiting in traffic, we’re impatient to get to where we’re going. If we don’t receive next-day shipping, we think it takes too long. And it’s easy to see our spirituality in the same way. If God doesn’t answer our prayers on our timeline, then we get impatient. However, there are some things in life where we cherish the growth process. With our children we want them to stay young so that they will be around for longer. With relationships we are excited to get to know someone better over a period of time. With these situations it’s easier to want to be patient. Prayer is building a relationship, something that takes time but you are willing to make that happen because the reward of knowing God is worth it to you.

This passage in Luke talks about how we must persevere and be patient in our prayers. God desires to give his children good things; it’s just that he wants to be with us throughout that process. Every prayer that we pray brings us closer and closer to God. God wants you to come to him, that’s why he says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened” (Luke 11:9).

So, are you weary? Are you impatient? Are you frustrated with how long God seems to be taking? We have the opportunity in those times to either become frustrated with our prayer life or to push through and persevere, knowing that God has something greater in store for us. Imagine what God could and would do if you would only commit to keep asking him until he comes through.

Reflect:

• Is there something for which you’ve grown weary of seeking, knocking, or asking? What is it? How can you commit to persevering with patience in prayer today?
• Are there specific things that you are asking God to do? Today, take a piece of paper and divide it into two columns. For one column write “Prayers” and for the other “Answered Prayers.” Now, commit to pray for those things in the “Prayers” column until you receive an answer and then write that answer in the “Answered Prayers” column.