NIV Once-A-Day Bible for MenSample

KEEP KNOCKING As Jesus teaches his disciples about prayer, he drops in this marvelous nugget of truth, using a metaphor that his disciples (and we) can easily understand — ​the importance of seeking, asking, and knocking. That’s how the process works in everyday life. If we want something, we don’t expect it to be dropped in our laps; instead we go after it. Yet in our relationship with God, we can easily become passive and passé. Here Jesus is emphasizing the fact that God is always listening and will respond to our requests and pleas — ​but we need to take the initiative. Often we get too busy to pray. Sometimes we become so burdened and preoccupied with our problems that we forget to talk with our heavenly Father. We may even feel as though our needs are small and insignificant and that God would not be concerned with them. But Jesus says to persist in our prayers — ​asking, seeking, and knocking. The other half of this teaching is just as exciting. Not only is God listening to our prayers, but he will answer them. If we ask, we will receive. If we seek answers to our questions, God will reveal them to us. If a door blocks our way, God will open it. Of course, God’s answers won’t always be what we expect — ​we shouldn’t presume to make demands. But he will respond. He loves us that much. Persist in prayer. Talk to your heavenly Father. He wants to hear from you. Ask, seek, and knock.  I want to talk with you, Lord, about . . .