“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. Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
—Matthew 7:7-12

~~~~~

Ask, Seek, Knock
By Jennifer Kane

I ask—
Lifting my prayers to heaven,
Seeking His will, yet longing for mine,
Still, I bring my requests.

I seek—
Yearning for what my heart desires most,
Day after day, searching, waiting,
Each silence stretching into eternity.
“Keep seeking,” the Spirit whispers, “Do not give up.”

I knock—
Boldly, persistently, with faith unshaken.
No tear falls unnoticed, no prayer unheard.
“Ask,” He says, “and I will give.”
“Open your heart, lift your voice, believe—
For every good gift comes from above.”

~~~~~

Scripture: Matthew 7:7-8, John 14:13-14, John 15:7, John 16:23-24

Prayer isn’t just a ritual or a last resort when all else fails—it’s an open invitation from God Himself. He longs for us to come to Him, to ask, to seek, and to knock (Matthew 7:7-8). Yet, so often, we hesitate. We wonder if our requests are too small, too big, or maybe even too selfish. We hold back, unsure of His will, or doubting that He cares about the details of our lives.

But Jesus, in His final moments with the disciples, didn’t just suggest that we pray—He commanded it. Over and over in John 14-16, He urges us to ask. Why? Because our prayers are meant to bring glory to God. When we pray in Jesus’ name, it’s not just a closing phrase—it’s about coming before God in a way that reflects His heart, His mission, and His character.

The more we abide in Christ, the more our prayers align with His will. When His Word shapes our thoughts, our desires shift. We begin to long for what He longs for, to pray not just for what we want in the moment but for what is truly best according to His wisdom. And the result? Joy. Not fleeting happiness, but the deep, lasting joy that only comes from walking in step with our Savior.

Jesus invites us—commands us—to ask. Not timidly, but boldly. Not in doubt, but in faith. So today, come before your Father with confidence. Lay your requests before Him, trusting that He is good, that He hears, and that He delights in giving good gifts to His children (Matthew 7:11).

—

Father, thank You for the gift of prayer. Help me to come before You with faith, to ask without fear, and to trust that You hear me. Align my desires with Yours, that my prayers may bring You glory and lead to the lasting joy found in Your presence. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

March 15 2025