MATHEW 7:7-8"ASK, AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN YOU; SEEK, AND YE SHALL FIND; KNOCK, AND IT SHALL BE OPENED UNTO YOU: FOR EVERY ONE THAT ASKETH RECEIVETH; AND HE THAT SEEKETH FINDETH; AND TO HIM THAT KNOCKETH IT BE OPENED." These verses present three different forms of making our needs and desires known to our heavenly Father:
1."ASK--- and it shall be given you." We are to ask in the name of Jesus and in accordance with God's will. In John 14:13 Jesus promised His disciples,' Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name,that will i do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son."
2. " SEEK"---and ye shall find." If the answer does not come when we ask, we are to seek-- anything that may be hindering our prayers, seek God's will, seek God's good pleasure , and continue to persevere in prayer.
3."KNOCK--- and it shall be opened unto you,"
This is used with reference to knocking on a door, asking that it be opened. Revelation 3:20 presents Jesus as standing at the door of cloesd hearts, knocking, seeking to come in, if any will open to Him. In prayer, we are to knock--- and keep on knocking until God answers. AND HE WILL ANSWER. The answer may be "NO!" but if we persevere in prayer, God will answer.
In LUKE 11:6--8 Jesus gave a parable which illustrates this very clearly:
"AND HE SAID UNTO THEM: WHICH OF YOU SHALL HAVE A FRIEND, AND SHALL GO UNTO HIM AT MIDNIGHT, AND SAY UNTO HIM, FRIEND, LEND ME THREE LOAVES; FOR A FRIEND OF MINE IN HIS JOURNEY IS COME TO ME, AND I HAVE NOTHING TO SET BEFORE HIM? AND HE FROM WITHIN SHALL ANSWER AND SAY, TROUBLE ME NOT: THE DOOR IS NOW SHUT, AND CHILDREN ARE WITH ME IN BED; I CANNOT RISE AND GIVE THEE." I SAY UNTO, THOUGH HE WILL NOT RISE AND GIVE HIM, BECAUSE HE IS HIS FRIEND, YET BECAUSE OF HIS IMPORTUNITY HE WILL RISE AND GIVE AS MANY AS HE NEEDETH."
Because we keep on asking,because we continue to knock, God will answer,"FOR EVERY ONE THAT ASKETH RECEIVETH.....HE THAT SEEKETH FINDETH." ....TO HIM THAT KNOCKETH IT SHALL BE OPENED." GOd does not always give the very thing we ask, but when He fails to give that for which we ask, He gives something better. It may not SEEM BETTER FROM OUR VIEWPOINT, but we must remember that "ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD TO THEM THAT LOVE GOD, TO TGEM WHO ARE THE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE"(ROMANS 8:28).
Therefore whatever God gives in answer to our prayers will be to our good and His glory, even though we may not be able to discern His purpose or design in giving it. God is not obligated to explain His actions to us. We are obligated to trust Him so completely that WHATEVER His purpose or design , we will accept it with thanksgiving because it is God's will for us.
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