A.S.K

A.S.K!

For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened. Matthew 7:8 AMPC

The Context and Focus:

Jesus took time to teach both his disciples and the crowd about the principles, practices and processes of His kingdom. The topics he covered ranged from marriage, revenge, envy and the power of words, to prayers and priorities. Today's verse is part of his teaching on the power and effect of prayer. However, just before Jesus taught these verses, he spoke against hypocrisy. As it was in his time on earth, so is it still the same in our own time today. Men have found ways to point to other people's faults, whilst conveniently forgetting or ignoring their own shortcomings and failures. We are quick to point out the faults and failings of other people, forgetting that our humanity is the reason why we cannot be completely perfect by our own efforts or labour. As we trust God to help us with our weaknesses and shortcomings, we come to a place of total surrender and submission to the will of God. I cannot be holding on to my own principles and practices, expecting God to back me up. I have to make the approach to God on God's terms, not mine. 

The Message:

God has made known and also declared publicly what His mind is, and if I will lay hold of God's perfect will, I have to come to Him as He directs. The process is as declared: A.S.K. The first is ASK, which is defined as 'a demand or situation that requires a specified degree of effort or commitment', and to 'say something in order to obtain an answer or some information.' Two key themes here are that asking cannot be a one-off exercise; it is something I have to keep doing in order to get an answer or information. It means that the process of asking is not complete until a response has been obtained. That is what the verse above makes clear: I keel asking until I receive. The second is SEEK, which is defined as an 'attempt or desire to obtain or achieve something'. It means you have a clear picture in your mind of what you want and where you want to go or be. The last is KNOCK, which is aptly defined as to 'strike a surface noisily to attract attention, especially when waiting to be let in through a door'. It means knocking cannot be passive or silent, because you are trying to catch someone's attention. 

The Conclusion:

All the definitions above point to one fact: to A.S.K the right way requires that I know very clearly what I want, who I am asking for help from, and where I am want to be and go. I do not have the right information at all times, and this is why I make sure I A.S.K the right way. All of them go together, because God's provisions are in different shapes, sizes and styles. There are instances where a simple request is all I need to make; a simple and short prayer, and God can raise men to give me things, or open doors for me that I would not have been entitled to walk through at the time. From the verse above, it is also quite important to note that I do not ask once and keep quiet; I keep at it until I get a response. By virtue of my surrender to the Authority and Lordship of Jesus, I accept His response as His perfect will for me. Maybe a NO is His will for me at a particular time, but it is only by consistent fellowship by God that I can hear him when his answer changes, or even if His response remains the same. A.S.K becomes my daily walk, until the Lord comes. Would you do the same? God's time of favour is here.