Prayer Journal
Monday, August 7, 2000
"So, I say to you: 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; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." Luke 11:9,10
I would like to say these words of Jesus are the most important ones covered in a discussion about prayer, but sadly I don't think so.
Jesus has been teaching his disciples to pray in the verses 1-8 and is drawing a conclusion to His teaching in verse 9-12. If you ask most Christians what these verses mean, their answer will most likely be something like, "God will answer when I pray." I submit that it is much more than that.
1. When you ask God for something, are you so definite that you know when he delivers it? If you pray, "God bless us." God could reply, "In what way? With what measure? When do you need it? Does my Word cover your need? Where does it say that? Have you met my conditions? I'm trying to get your attention, why not ask me why you don't have it? Have you trusted me to provide it by acting in faith? Can I depend on you to give me the praise?"
2. Do you follow your prayer with "looking" for the answer? Do you always answer the door or answer the telephone before looking out the peep hole in the door, or checking CallerID? Perhaps you do, but should you? God, likewise wants to know that we believe His word. If we are "seeking" an answer but never check our mailbox for a response, what does that tell God about our request?
3. How long should you knock at someone's door before deciding that they're either not at home, unable or unwilling to answer the door. How long before you give up and walk away? Do you knock louder out of desperation? Try again later? Call them on the phone and leave a message. Ask the neighbors where they are, when they're coming back? Thank God, He is never on vacation, but I can't walk up and knock and expect an answer when there's something preventing Him from answering the door, like "unconfessed sin", wrong motive, etc.
Perhaps the right interpretation to the verse is, "God answers me when I pray, IF..<Conditions go here>." Just Thinkin' WebServant
(1) Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society
(2) The images used herein were obtained from the Learning Company's ClickArt Christian Graphics Deluxe product, (c)1999 The Learning Company, Inc and its subsidiaries, 88 Roland Way, Novato, CA 94945 USA. All Rights Reserved.
