22970.008 Ask, Seek, Knock

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
(Matthew 7:7, NIV)

God wants us to involve him in the pursuit of our desires. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus reveals a simple but profound three-step process to help us: ask, seek, and knock.

When we are looking for something, we usually change this sequence. First, we begin by seeking. Then we knock on various doors to see if any will open. And then finally, we ask a person hoping to get the answer we desire.

Did Jesus make a mistake with this sequence? Why did he begin with “ask”? The answer is actually quite obvious. Jesus is not talking about asking a person. He is telling us to ask God before we even begin seeking and knocking.

Ask

Have you ever asked someone you didn’t know for something significant? If so, deep down you probably doubted you would get what you wanted. That’s because usually, the depth of the relationship needs to be in proportion to the size of the request.

Jesus tells us to ask our heavenly Father (see Matthew 7:9–11). We begin by asking him for the things we desire. We go to him because we know he cares. We go to him because he wants to be involved in our lives.

Prayer changes things in the spiritual realm when we ask according to God’s guidelines (see 1 John 5:14–15; Matthew 21:22; James 4:3; 1 John 3:21–22; John 15:7; John 15:16; Luke 18:1,6–8).

However, it may take time before that change becomes noticeable in the physical realm. By faith, make it a habit to thank God for his answer while you wait for its manifestation.

Demonstrate your faith and anticipation by “seeking” and “knocking.”

“We cannot rely on God’s promises without obeying his commandments.”
—John Calvin

Seek

Why does God want us to seek after asking him for what we desire? Seeking implies faith and expectation. Do you believe in God’s ability to fulfill your desire? Are you trusting that he cares enough about you to follow through? Are your motives for the request according to God’s standards?

Work through whatever issues you may have so that you can actively watch and expect God to act on your behalf. The apostle Paul tells us, “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful” (Colossians 4:2, NIV).

Look for possible ways through which God may answer your prayer. With an attitude of expectation and anticipation, be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. Stay alert; if you believe God has answered your prayer, you will be looking for its manifestation.

Knock

God doesn’t just want you to watch for opportunities expectantly, he also wants you to put your feet to your faith. As the Holy Spirit makes you aware of possibilities, be faithful to pursue them. Knock on the door of a possibility to see if it will open wide or slam shut.

What God doesn’t answer immediately he will answer eventually. As you walk by faith, continue to thank God for his answer. Although you do not know when it will arrive, it will be on schedule according to his timetable. Keep on thanking him for his promise: “For everyone who asks receives, he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened” (Matthew 7:8, NIV).

22970.009 The Next Faith Step

We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.
(Proverbs 16:9)

Where do you go from here? Perhaps you are the kind of person who likes to plan everything out. You want to know the exact route to your destination and make sure you have everything you need before you embark on your way. Or maybe you are a free spirit who feels comfortable letting life happen without much forethought.

God wants you to walk by faith into your future with him. What does that mean? You will not know exactly where the road will take you. And you will not be able to count on your resources or abilities to get you to your destination. And the destination that you have chosen may even be changed!

2 Corinthians 5:7 tells us “For we walk by faith not by sight” (BSB). God wants you to walk into the future knowing that he is by your side and trusting in his goodness. He is your guide companion provider and protector. He wants you to trust him because you know him and have a history of adventures with him. You don’t know what the future holds. You don’t know what lies around the next bend of life. But he does. And he is committed to caring for you as you walk the road together.

“God uses our most stumbling, faltering faith-steps as the open-door to His doing for us ‘more than we ask or think’.”
—Catherine Marshall

It’s true that the journey ahead of you might be longer than you wish. You may go through dark valleys. There might be detours and cliffs on either side of the road. Whatever the case may be, it’s okay. If you just do the next step you will get there. Are you feeling nervous right now? Discouraged even? Trust that God hasn’t forgotten you. He’s right here with you—listening to you loving you desiring a closer relationship with you. Lean on his Word and his understanding in times of seeming hopelessness and he will provide you with the love strength and encouragement you need to take the next step.

God is more capable and involved in guiding your steps and orchestrating your circumstances than you can imagine. King Solomon wrote, “A person’s steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand their own way?” (Proverbs 20:24)

Take your next step by faith, knowing that God will redirect you if necessary. You can go forward with this assurance: “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy31:8).

So, what is your next decision to make? What is the next step to take? Whatever it is, do it. God will be there with you. He is your partner on this life journey.

22988 Trusting God

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. (Proverbs 3:5–6)

How many times as a child did you hope for something impossible? No matter how improbable, you were absolutely convinced that what seemed impossible would happen. But now as an adult, you are probably much more guarded about what you hope for.

“Trustfulness is based on confidence in God whose ways I do not understand.” —Oswald Chambers

God is pleased when we trust him and live our lives relying on his faithfulness. But that is a process that develops over time as our knowledge of him increases, and we repeatedly experience his loving care. However, it is not without struggle. Our human nature is constantly urging us to depend on what we can see, touch, and feel. Meanwhile, the Spirit encourages us to believe what God has told us and act accordingly.

The apostle Paul instructs us to “live by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7, NIV). But what does that really mean?

When we received Christ as our Savior and Lord, it was through an act of spiritual faith. We heard the gospel, responded to God’s invitation for salvation, believed it to be true, and then, through an act of our will, reached out to God to accept his offer, even though it was not discernible by our five senses.

Colossians 2:6 tells us “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him” (NIV).

Continuing to live our lives in him means trusting in him and his character. Because he is trustworthy, we are to believe what he reveals to us with confidence. Then we can follow through on our trust in God and our belief in his word, by taking the appropriate action. As we persevere in doing what God has told us, we will see the fulfillment of what he has promised.

Maybe you are at a point in your journey where you are facing a major challenge. Perhaps you have a string of disappointments in your past. With your natural sight, the situation may seem hopeless. But put on your spiritual glasses. Look at the amazing abilities of your heavenly Father and how much he loves you. Then choose to trust him for the impossible.

22987 It’s Not Impossible!

What is impossible for people is possible with God. (Luke 18:27, NIV)

Have you sometimes felt like you will never be victorious over a problem in your life? Have obstacles seemed overwhelming? How will you ever overcome what’s facing you? Is God really directing guiding and helping you?

Can you relate to any of the following statements as being your barrier to believing God for the impossible?

“Been there, didn’t happen.”

In the past, you believed God would do something you really wanted—but he never did. So now, if you don’t ask God for help, you won’t be disappointed when nothing seems to be happening.

“Why do that for me?”

You feel unworthy. Maybe it is guilt about past actions. Or maybe you just don’t feel you are good enough now to deserve someone really good.

“I just don’t see how.”

What’s the point in hoping for something when you can’t even imagine how it could happen? You don’t have the necessary resources or opportunities. Hoping is just wishful thinking.

“We have a God who delights in impossibilities.” —Andrew Murray

Each of these barriers results from our misconceptions about God and how he views us. In reality, our heavenly Father, like any parent with greater foresight than the child, says “yes” to requests that will benefit us and “no” to those that are harmful. He is more than able to do anything we can ask. And yes, we are unworthy of his help. But our relationship with God is not based on our performance but rather on his loving and gracious nature. He enjoys giving us good gifts. And he receives the glory and praise when he does something that is far beyond anything we could have predicted based on our knowledge and available resources.

Our heavenly Father is a God who specializes in doing the impossible for his children’s good and he wants us to marvel as we watch him work in our lives.

God can do anything and he has limitless abilities. Because he is present everywhere, he sees everything and can intervene anywhere. Because he is all-knowing, he has all the facts to make the right choices. And because he is all-powerful, he has the ability to accomplish whatever is necessary.

Think about that: he is ever-present, all-knowing, and all-powerful. Those infinite abilities make it possible for God to be sovereign—in complete control of everything.

Fortunately, all those abilities reside within our God who is holy—and that means what he does will always be right and just. What he says is true and what he promises will be done.

Can you imagine how awful life would be if God did not have a perfect character and the integrity to guide him in how he sovereignly involves himself in our lives?

The best news of all is that this amazing God cares about you. He is merciful and forgiving when you offend him. He is faithful to always look out for you and your best interests even though you might not be aware of what that looks like. He is totally committed to your ultimate happiness and well-being. And he never changes!

The bottom line?

With God on your side, nothing is impossible!

22986 A Perseverance Mindset

Let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. (Galatians 6:9)

Do you ever feel like just giving up? Like what you desire will never happen? It is hopeless?

And sometimes other well-meaning people say things to you that are actually quite discouraging. But God is still there— waiting.

Why does the journey have to be so difficult?

God permits trials for our development.

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. (James 1:2–4)

Difficulties are an opportunity for us to lean into God’s care and strength. The more we focus on God’s abilities and commitment to us, the more our faith in him increases. And we keep moving forward. Trials are intended to strengthen our faith and increase our perseverance. With fully developed perseverance, we become all God planned for us to be in Christ.

“Never be afraid to hope—or ask for a miracle.” —Criswell Freeman

Why is perseverance so important?

Perseverance builds character and strong character produces confident hope.

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. (Romans 5:3–4)

With hope, we can envision the fulfillment of God’s promises as we focus on what he has said and his trustworthy character. And the result is joy and peace.

Hope overcomes discouragement and enables us to persevere.

Sometimes our situation can seem overwhelming. We may even think it is pointless to go on. But the real problem is that we are focused on our circumstances instead of God.

Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—
my Savior and my God!
(Psalm 43:5, NLT)

Every person on this earth will encounter times of discouragement. The only way to get out of a dark pit is to look up to God.

No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced,

Lead me by your truth and teach me,
for you are the God who saves me.
All day long I put my hope in you.
(Psalm 25:3, 5)

But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

God is working in you. Hold on to him as you continue your journey. He is developing your character and preparing you to be the person you need to be to accomplish the plans he has for you.

31055 Spirit-filled Lifestyle

The adventure of living with Jesus is a life controlled (guided and empowered) by the Holy Spirit. This is a Spirit-filled life.

At the moment you believe in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are spiritually born again, and the Holy Spirit is given to you as God’s promise of all that is and will be yours in Christ.

The Holy Spirit dwells in you and is the source of your new life in Christ (John 7:37-39). What makes you unique and different as a Christian is the Holy Spirit in you. You live by the Spirit.

Being Filled with the Spirit

Every believer in Christ is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, but being filled with the Spirit is an act of faith and is not automatic.

Many Christians are not aware of the Holy Spirit or the commandment to be filled with Him. Apart from Him and His enabling, it is impossible for Christians to live a life pleasing to God. In our own effort, we will also live a life that is devoid of His love and power.

To be filled with the Holy Spirit is an act of faith in three steps:

  1. Desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
  2. Confess your sins.
  3. Ask and believe that He is guiding and empowering you.

1. Desire

As a Christian, you have a deep desire to follow Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. You want to please God as His beloved child. Knowing that it is impossible to live a Christian life with your own strength and effort, you want the Holy Spirit to control you.

Desiring the fullness of the Holy Spirit to guide and empower you earnestly with the right attitude is important.

The right attitude is one of humility to submit yourself under the authority of Jesus Christ and “to present your bodies as a sacrifice—alive, holy, and pleasing to God” (Romans 12:1).

2. Confess

Confess your sin to the Lord as the Holy Spirit reveals to you (Psalm 139:23–24).

To confess means to agree with God.

By confessing your sins, you are not asking God to forgive you for your sins but agreeing with God that what you have done is a sin and that you view it as offensive and repulsive as God sees it. You agree with God to turn away from it.

Then, give thanks to God that He has already forgiven your sin because of the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

3. Ask and Believe

Because it is a command of the Lord (Ephesians 5:18), we can trust God for his promise that “whenever we ask anything according to his will, he hears us” (1 John 5:14) and believe that the Holy Spirit fills us.

Simply ask the Holy Spirit to fill you and believe that He has answered your request. You are filled with the Holy Spirit by faith.

Now that you are filled with the Holy Spirit, you can go about your everyday life.

One of the surest ways to know that you are being filled with the Holy Spirit is that you are living in faith. In everything you say and do, you are doing it as to the Lord (Colossians 3:23), and you keep His commandments (John 14:21).

Because you are guided and empowered by the Spirit, you want to be mindful of His presence within you throughout the day. Even with your mundane tasks, you can turn to the Holy Spirit and ask Him to help you. He will often speak to you as your own thoughts, ideas, and images in your mind. A Scripture verse may come to your mind. They are usually a still and small whisper.

It will take time and practice to learn to discern His voice within you. One important rule to remember when you are trying to discern if what you have in your mind is from the Holy Spirit. The voice of the Holy Spirit will NEVER contradict the Word of God.

The Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth, draw you closer to Jesus Christ, and help you obey the Father.

This is why it is critical that Christians are students of God’s Word. The more you become familiar with the Bible, the more clearly you will hear the Holy Spirit. The more you obey the Word, the more He will speak to you.

Walk by the Spirit

Now, “if we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25). When we are in step with the Holy Spirit, our life results in purpose, power, peace, and hope. To keep in step with the Spirit is to remain filled by the Spirit moment by moment. It is like a ballroom dance. In it, a man takes the lead, and a woman follows. She must attentively follow his lead in every step.

You can cultivate a Spirit-filled lifestyle in which you habitually trust Jesus and submit to the guidance of the Holy Spirit in obedience to the Word of God. This is also the way to experience spiritual growth and transformation in your life. One of the key Biblical concepts to help you keep in step with the Spirit is called spiritual breathing.

It is a practice of exhaling the impure and inhaling the pure.

If you sin by committing a deliberate act of disobedience, or when the Holy Spirit points out a sin in your life, practice spiritual breathing. 

Exhale by Confession

To confess in the New Testament means “to agree with” or “to say along with”. So, confession is more than acknowledging your sins. It means to agree with God on everything he has to say about anything.

First, you agree with God that what you have just done – name it specifically to God – is indeed a sin out of your willful disobedience.

Second, you give thanks and praise, by faith, to God for his forgiveness through Christ’s death on the cross.  

Third, you repent. To repent in the New Testament means to “change one’s mind”. It is more than saying or even feeling sorry. By repenting, you change your mind, heart, action, and attitude. Instead of depending on your own strength to please the Lord in all respects (Colossians 1:10), you choose to depend on the Holy Spirit. 

Inhale by Faith

Then you inhale by surrendering the control of your life to Christ and appropriate by faith the fullness (influence) of the Spirit in your life to direct and empower you. It also means embracing God’s truth instead of false or sinful beliefs of the flesh and adopting Christ-like thoughts, actions, feeling, or attitudes instead of carnal ones.

Even though every believer in Jesus is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, not all believers are filled (influenced) by the Holy Spirit. That is why God through the Apostle Paul commands us to be filled by the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). 

“And this is the confidence that we have before him: that whenever we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in regard to whatever we ask, then we know that we have the requests that we have asked from him.” (1 John 5:14-15)

According to the promise in the above verses, God always answers our requests that are according to his will. Because being filled by the Spirit is God’s command, he will certainly answer you if you ask to be filled by the Spirit.

A Spirit-filled life is not a problem-free life. Jesus was the perfect example of a Spirit-filled person. If even Jesus faced misunderstanding, oppositions, persecutions, and other challenges of life, Spirit-filled believers are not free from the problems of life.

There are two types of problems we face. Some difficulties in life are created by our own selfish actions. Spirit-filled individuals will be able to avoid these problems. The second type of difficulty is simply the result of living in this fallen world. Spiritual persons can face these challenges with peace and confidence in God and His goodness, depending solely on the power of the Holy Spirit.

Walking in the Spirit with spiritual breathing can be summarized by the words of the Apostle Paul:

“I have been crucified with Christ: and I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. And the real life I now have within this body is a result of my trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

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31057 Living By Grace

“From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.” (John 1:16)

Have you ever been around someone who made you feel like you just didn’t measure up to their expectations? No matter what you did, it never seemed quite good enough?

In reality, we don’t measure up to God’s standard either. We aren’t good enough. That is why Jesus died on the cross for our sins and has clothed us with his righteousness. God bestows his goodness on us, not because we are worthy, but because he is gracious. “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it” (Ephesians 2:8–9, NLT).

Many people live a performance-based life. What they do determines the rewards or punishments they receive. Because of this perspective, they bring the scales of performance into their relationships. Are you living a performance-based life or is your life characterized by grace? How you honestly answer this question has a profound impact on your relationship with God and with others.

First, let’s consider your relationship with God. Are you still trying to earn God’s favor through your deeds? The Bible is clear that we will never be good enough to gain entrance into heaven apart from Jesus’ saving grace. But even though believers rely on Christ’s sacrifice for their salvation, later, like the Galatians, they often try to please God through their self-effort. In Galatians we read these words of challenge: “After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?” (Galatians3:3).

Certainly, God wants us to live righteous lives and reflect Christ-like character qualities. We need to seek to live as Godly people. But the transformation of our character comes through our surrender to and dependence upon the Holy Spirit. Whatever blessings we receive are the result of God’s loving kindness.

So, what happens when you bring performance-oriented attitudes into human relationships? Acceptance is dependent upon behavior and rejection is the consequence of failing to satisfy the other person’s expectations. As a result, there is insecurity and tension in these kinds of relationships.

“We must appropriate the tender mercy of God every day after conversion, or problems quickly develop. We need his daily grace in order to live a righteous life.” —David Jeremiah

God wants us to freely receive his grace and love. And he wants us to extend that same grace and love to others. In fact, with the help of the Holy Spirit, others may actually sense God’s unconditional love and acceptance flowing through you.

With God, you need to remember that you do not have to be “good enough” to “earn” favor. Instead, believe in God’s goodness and expect him to give you far more than you deserve.

Enjoy God’s goodness and grace. It is really given freely.

31056 Talking with God

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” (Philippians 4:6)

Are you used to going it alone? Do you think it is up to you to solve your own problems?

That’s not what God wants. He is there for you. But you need to talk with him about what is going on in your life. As a Christian, you do this through prayer.

Prayer is taking time to talk with your heavenly Father. It is a conversation where you can share what’s in your heart and anticipate God’s response. Prayer is a vital part of developing your relationship with God.

God wants you to seek his guidance, comfort, peace, and intimate companionship at all times … not just when you want something. He has the answers to all of life’s questions!

When you are praying, God is listening … and he will answer—if not immediately then eventually.

So why does God want you to spend time talking with him?

God wants to develop a relationship with you.

“Come near to God and he will come near to you.” (James 4:8, NIV)

God wants to bless you.

“So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.” (Matthew 7:11)

God wants to meet your needs.

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16, NIV)

Talk with God about your life and your desires. Openly share your thoughts and feelings. Invite him to open your mind and heart to embrace what he has for you. Then listen for his prompting through the Holy Spirit, seek his insights within the Bible, and watch for his orchestration of your circumstances.

“God’s help is always available, but it is only given to those who seek it.” —Max Lucado

 

As you learn more about the faithfulness of God, the more you will trust him; and the more you trust him, the more you will enjoy talking with him. Because God is your perfect heavenly Father, you can pray with confidence knowing that he is listening and will answer your prayers!

Keep the communication lines open. You are on an exciting journey with your heavenly Father.