ASK, SEEK, KNOCK

I was 12 when I first read Matthew 7:7. At the time, my understanding of what it meant was elementary, but I still was so fired up about it! At one point, I was even going to get a tattoo that read, ‘A.S.K.,’ because I wanted people to ask me about it so I could tell them about the passage.

I never got the tattoo, but that verse has remained just as constant in my life as though I did. It’s easy for us to view this verse as if God exists as a genie in a bottle that grants our every wish; however, the context offers something deeper. God does say, “You do not have because you do not ask” (James 4:2), and He does say to call upon him in our time of need (Psalm 50:15), so the takeaway can easily become God will give me whatever I ask for.

As a dad to 3 daughters, I have started to think about this verse in a different light. See, if my daughters ask me for something, I almost always give them whatever they ask for without skipping a beat. I love seeing the joy on my 3-year olds face when I say ‘yes,’ to taking her to the park or giving her a cookie. However, sometimes I say no to my daughters because I know that whatever they are asking for will not be the best thing for them at the time. The more I’ve meditated on this verse from a father's perspective, I have found three takeaways.

1. God wants us to ask Him for things. This shows our heavenly Father that we want to reciprocate the relationship that He so willingly chases after us for.
2. God is not a genie in a bottle; rather, He is an omniscient God who knows exactly what we need and when
3. Just like I know when to say no to my daughters, God knows when things are not in our best interest and lovingly says ‘no,’ when we get in our own way with our requests.

My passion for this verse remains because I have witnessed the power and faithfulness of its promise on full display in my life, and I pray it’s the same for you today!

Reflect

• What are you calling upon God for today?
• Pray for God to reveal His will and way for every request. Do so from a place of thanksgiving, recognizing that He is waiting on the other side of the door you’re knocking on, longing to commune and converse with you.

Corbin Phillips, Thrive Worship

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