“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you then, although you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! In everything, treat others as you would want them to treat you, for this fulfills the law and the prophets.” —Matthew 7:7–12
In Matthew 6, Jesus taught us how to bring glory and honor to God through our prayers by giving us the model of the Lord’s Prayer. In our verses for today, He teaches us to pray, pray, and keep on praying!
I am reminded of Paul’s words:
“Constantly pray.” —1 Thessalonians 5:17
Jesus assures us that God welcomes our prayers and urges us to come to Him persistently and continuously. God is discovered by those who earnestly seek Him. Indeed, as our Great High Priest in heaven, Scripture tells us Jesus is at the right hand of God living to intercede on our behalf setting forth for us the perfect example:
“But he holds his priesthood permanently since he lives forever. So he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” —Hebrews 7:24–25
We must approach God as His children, as we might approach our earthly fathers, expectantly, confidently, and with complete trust that He will never withhold anything from us which will be for our ultimate good. We can be sure He has full knowledge of what is best for us and we can rest securely in what His hand allows in our lives.
Throughout the Bible, God compares His love and concern for His children to both an earthly father and a mother. However, His compassion, tenderness, and goodness far surpass that of any earthly parent. God is infinitely wise in what He bestows. Earthly parents can be foolish, being permissive without having the wisdom to show restraint. This can often lead to the ultimate detriment of the child. God is able to give us anything, yet in His infinite wisdom He withholds anything that He knows will harm us:
“As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on his faithful followers. Can she withhold compassion from the child she has borne?” — Psalm 103:13
“Can a woman forget her baby who nurses at her breast? Can she withhold compassion from the child she has borne? Even if mothers were to forget, I could never forget you! Look, I have inscribed your name on my palms; your walls are constantly before me.” —Isaiah 49:15–16
James tells us:
“All generous giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or the slightest hint of change.” —James 1:17
Become More
“Pleading the promises of God is the whole secret of prayer.” —Martyn Lloyd-Jones
“For the LORD God is our sovereign protector. The LORD bestows favor and honor; he withholds no good thing from those who have integrity.” —Psalm 84:11
Further Reflections
“Prayer is not an exercise, it is the life of the saint. Beware of anything that stops the offering up of prayer … maintain the childlike habit of offering up prayer in your heart to God all the time.” —Oswald Chambers
“When you call out to me and come to me in prayer, I will hear your prayers. When you seek me in prayer and worship, you will find me available to you. If you seek me with all your heart and soul, I will make myself available to you,’ says the LORD. ‘Then I will reverse your plight and will regather you from all the nations and all the places where I have exiled you,’ says the LORD. ‘I will bring you back to the place from which I exiled you.’” —Jeremiah 29:12–14
“You know the value of prayer; it is precious beyond all price. Never, never neglect it.” —Thomas Buxton