Ask, Seek, Knock

 “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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

— Luke 11:9-10

Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King,

I am away today at a small mountain cabin in Packwood, WA with Susie to rest and to pray. As I pray, I am going to ask. Asking is so simple. When I understand the Father's heart is to give what I ask when I ask for what He already wants to give me, it's a no-brainer! Ask Him! The Father's heart to me is to give. When the desires of my heart align with His, He is all too ready to give!

Psalm 20:4 says, "May He give you the desires of your heart and make all your plans succeed." Psalm 37:4 says, "Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." And Psalm 145:19 promises, "He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them." Lord, I want to know your desires for me so that I can ask boldly and confidently knowing that you will give me those desires.

As I pray, I am going to knock. Knocking is so simple. It's more active than asking. I have to get up, go to the door and exert some effort to knock. But it's not complicated. When I understand the Father's heart is to open the door when I knock, I'm excited because then I know He's coming through that door and no one is going to shut it on me.

Revelation 3:20 says, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person and they with me." 1 Corinthians 16:9 says, "because a great door for effective work has opened to me..." And Revelation 3:8 declares, "I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name." Lord, I want to knock on the doors you are opening for me so that when they swing wide open I'm walking through, with you, into your promise.

As I pray, I am going to seek. Seeking is so simple. Hide-and-seek is a child's game because there's a thrill to our hearts when we find who we are looking for. Seeking requires more energy than knocking. Seeking requires diligence, thoughtfulness, and persistence. To find someone who is hiding, you have to think like them, asking, "Where would I be if I were them?" When I know the Father's heart is that He wants to be found by me and He wants me to find what I'm searching for, then I'm excited to get up and go on the hunt! I want to see the joy on the Father's face when I discover what He's tucked away for me to find.

Jeremiah 29:13 says, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Psalm 27:8 says, "My heart says of you, "Seek His face!" Your face, Lord, I will seek." And Psalm 24:5-6 declares, "They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face, God of Jacob." Lord, I want to seek you above all else. I want to seek you with all my heart. I want to seek your face. I want to seek what you have in store for me.

Gracious Lord, today I am going to ask, to seek, and to knock. I believe that as I do, I will receive from You what I need and what You desire. I believe that as I do, I will find what I seek because I am seeking Your face and Your heart. I believe that as I do, the door I knock on will swing wide open for me, and You and I will sit and eat together in new places and spaces where You are bringing me. I ask all of this in Jesus' mighty name.

— In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen!

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