Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

Hannah asked for a child and God not only gave her Samuel but also gave her three sons and two daughters. Solomon asked for wisdom and it was given unto him. Blind Bartimaeus asked Jesus for his sight and it was restored. These individuals asked God for something and they received their request.

It is important that we understand that if we abide in God, and we meditate upon HIS words, we are learning to delight ourselves in the Lord and HE has promised to give us the desires of our heart. We are told in 1 John 5:14-15 that “this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”

God desires that we learn to seek HIS will. Once we understand HIS will for our life, then we have the confidence that when we ask HIM for something in accordance with HIS will, then we shall receive that which we asked for. Powerful prayer warriors understand and apply this principle. They spend a lot of time drawing closer to God so that they will hear HIS still small voice so that they can receive the petition that they are asking God for.

Christ taught “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:7. It is important to understand that if we desire something from the Lord that we need to spend ample time in the Bible seeking to understand God’s will for our life. However, just because you understand God’s will for your life, it does not mean that God will not require you to go through a long period of asking HIM to fulfill HIS will. Just because you know HIS will, it does not mean that you know HIS perfect timing.

David understood that he was to be king of Israel. However, he had to wait many years as Saul tried to kill him before he saw the fulfillment of God’s will for his life. Joseph was given a dream at age 17 that he would be a great leader. However, Joseph was left for dead, sold as a slave, thrown into prison, and then forgotten by someone he had tried to help. Nonetheless, God had not forsaken Joseph and thirteen years after his vision, God lifted Joseph up out of prison and made him second in command over all Egypt.

Just because you have sought the Lord’s will and asked HIM for it, it does not mean that you do not have to demonstrate some persistence in your prayers. Hannah desired a child and she was found diligently praying to God for a son. Blind Bartimaeus had to cry out constantly and ignore those who were trying to get him to shut up.

Most likely, you feel that your prayer life is lacking. You hear stories from others about how powerful their prayers are and you wish that you could see such power in your own life. Follow the commands of Christ and start asking God to show you HIS will. Spend time seeking HIS will for your life. Once HE has revealed HIS will to you, start knocking until HE opens the door.

Your prayer life should not be about what you desire so that you can consume it upon yourself. Instead, you should add temperance to your life and learn to seek the will of God so that HE can add to the testimony that HE has already started in you. Be prepared to sacrifice the things of this world so that you can knock and continue to knock until HE gives you the desires of HIS heart.

Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

How many good things of God do you not have because you have failed to even ask God to give them to you? You ask not because you are afraid of what God might do. You fear that if you ask God for direction, that HE might send you to some third world country to live the rest of your life. As such, you would rather just not know the will of God since you believe it would be better to not know the will of God then to know it and disobey it.

There is a difference between asking, seeking, and knocking. If you were to walk into a business and ask them for a job, that would be completely different than doing research on a company to determine who was hiring and which company might have a need for your services. The difference between asking and knocking reveals a difference in intensity. When you are knocking, it demonstrates a diligence and perseverance. An individual who is knocking will not quickly give up.

God desires that we learn to ask, seek, and knock to discover a knowledge of the ways of God. We must be willing to take the time to not only ask God to reveal HIMSELF to us, but that we must be willing to set aside the time necessary to hear from God. We must be diligent and insist that we are not going to stop pursuing God until HE gives us that which HE has promised us.

We need to be like the woman who had an issue of blood for twelve years. She fought through the crowd knowing that if she only touched Jesus, then she would be healed. It was her faith and perseverance that healed her.

We need to be like the Gentile woman who insisted that Jesus heal her daughter. Jesus told the woman that HE was called to the nation of Israel. This woman did not leave but insisted that even if she was a dog, the dogs were entitled to crumbs. Jesus tells us about two individuals who had great faith and this woman was one of them.

When was the last time you set aside time to get alone with God? When was the last time you told God that you were going to abstain from eating until God revealed HIMSELF to you? When was the last time you put your focus fully on God and sought to grow in your relationship with HIM?

You must understand that it is not God who draws away from us, it is us who draws away from HIM. God desires to do great things through us, but too often, we fail to ask, seek, and knock because we are comfortable where we are at today.

It is time for you to put the things of God first in your life. It is time for you to start growing in your relationship with God. How can you live a life of contentment if you do not understand what God desires you to do next?

God desires to make the paths of your life clear. God does lead you through some difficult times but you can be assured that no matter how great your trial, God is ready and able to guide you every step of the way. God is waiting for you to just ask HIM. HE promises that if you ask, you will receive, if you seek you will find, and if you knock it will be opened unto you. What have you to fear?

Proverbs 20:8 A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.

If a ruler is deemed to be weak, the people will be lawless. However, if a ruler quickly disciplines those who do wrong, then those who desire to do wickedness are not nearly as quick to do what they want when they want.

We see during the reign of King Solomon that there was great peace in Israel. How would you like to be an evil doer during the time of Solomon? You hear about two prostitutes who come before Solomon for judgment and Solomon has the wisdom to discern which of the two women was the mother of the living child. If Solomon was wise enough to figure out which mother belonged to the baby, surely he would be able to figure out whether you are guilty.

However, after the death of Solomon, his son Rehoboam was put to the test. The people saw that in Rehoboam there was not the same wisdom of his father and thus the people scattered and named their own king. The nation of Israel did not have the respect for Rehoboam.

Every person at some time in their life will be the king or queen of some kingdom. Whether you become a manager over a large company with 1,000’s of workers or whether you are in charge of the local softball team you are still in charge. Whether you are making decisions regarding the life of your children or organizing a vacation Bible school, you need the wisdom of God to ensure that the decisions you make are just.

If people see that you are not willing to stand up and render a judgment, they will perceive that you are weak and will not respect your authority. The parent who refuses to set forth any rules is not a loving parent but is really showing how little they care about those who God has given to them. In the same way that a child can be secure in the home when they know what the rules are and they know that those rules will be administered fairly, so likewise there is order in a country when the people know that all men are treated equally under the law.

You need the wisdom of God to rule in judgment over those who God has put under you. Solomon was wise enough to ask God for wisdom so that he could properly rule the people that God had given to him. In the same way that Solomon was able to rule over his kingdom during a great time of peace because of the wisdom from God, so likewise, you too can enjoy the benefits of the wisdom of God.

Ask the Lord for wisdom. Seek wisdom from the Word of God. Knock and do not stop knocking until the Lord gives you the wisdom you need in order to face the problems you have today. If you desire to see peace in your classroom, your home, or your work place, then that peace must start with you. You must be willing to put God first in your life. You must be willing to add knowledge of the ways of God. You must be willing set rules and follow them.

God is our example. We understand that God loves us and HE sent HIS only Son to die for us so that we might have eternal life. However, this same God of love is also the God of judgment. HE has created Hell for those who do not accept the free gift of salvation. How can a perfect God expect us to be just in following rules if HE has not first set an example to us of what it means to be a just ruler? Yes there is a time for mercy and a time for love, but mercy and love cannot dominate in the absence of justice and judgment. As a leader, you need to learn the lessons of leadership as given to us by Solomon in this passage.

Proverbs 15:19 The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.

The slothful man does not want to work and as such, will find himself trapped by the circumstances of his life. The righteous man is diligent in seeking the direction that the Lord would have him to go and as such, God will always reveal the way. Jesus taught us that if we seek, we shall find.

Imagine a slothful man and a righteous man in a maze. The walls of this maze are a hedge of thorns. The slothful man will say that there is no way he is going to find his way out of the maze and thus he just sits down and does nothing. The righteous man understands that there is a way out of the maze and thus he will seek until he finds the way out.

God does not always immediately reveal HIS perfect will for your life. Instead, God desires that you spend time seeking the direction that HE would have you to go. One little prayer will not be sufficient to satisfy God that you are seeking HIM for direction for your life. Seeking will requires that you spend time on your knees talking to HIM. Seeking will require that you spend some time going out knocking on doors to see if some of the opportunities you see might be the way that God desires to lead you.

Isaac was a righteous man sojourning in the Promise Land. There was a time when Isaac was re-digging the wells that his father Abraham had once opened. However, every time the wells were reopened, someone seemed to come along and insist that the wells were theirs. Eventually, Isaac found a place that no one troubled him and that is where he knew God desired him to be. Isaac did not find the place where he was to dwell on the very first time. The servants of Isaac had to do some serious work only to find out once the job was completed that this is not where God desired them to be. However, Isaac did not allow this to discourage HIM and he kept pursuing until God made his ways plain.

Hannah was a woman who knew that the desire of her heart was to have a child. Hannah was not content with the love of her husband and as such, she spent much time praying to God asking HIM to give her the desires of her heart. Because of how much time Hannah spent in persistent prayer, when she learned that God was going to give her the desires of her heart, she had no trouble committing to give Samuel back to the Lord. It was plain to Hannah that the child that she spent so much time praying for had to be special. Satan did not want her to conceive of this child and she was required to spend so much time praying that this child surely belonged to God.

Samuel never had to wonder what the way of the Lord was for his life. From the first day of his life, you can imagine that Hannah taught him just how special he was and how God had a great purpose. God did use Samuel to lead the nation of Israel. It was clear to so many people just how special Samuel was, but it all started with the persistent prayers of his mother.

If you desire to discover the ways of the Lord, then you need to first spend time seeking the Lord. You need to take the time to add knowledge of the ways of God so that you can discern HIS perfect path for your life. If you are not persistent in your prayers, you will quickly grow discouraged and you will find that you do not go anywhere in life. Seek the Lord and you will find HIM. Seek the Lord and HE will make your ways plain.

Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

Wisdom and understanding will not be the easiest thing in the world to obtain – it will cost you something to obtain them. When Solomon was asked of God to ask for whatever he desired, Solomon had just made 1,000 burnt offerings to God. 1,000 burnt offerings was not a cheap gift to God, it demonstrated to God that Solomon desired to please the Lord first and foremost.

When David sinned and numbered the people, he made a sacrifice to God in order to stop the plague that God had sent across the land. One of the subjects of David, Araunah was willing to give to David the land, the wood, and the oxen. However, David told Araunah that he would not offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. (2 Samuel 24:24). David was not going to worship God at the expense of another.

What are you willing to sacrifice in order to obtain the favor of the Lord? God desires to show HIMSELF strong in your life, but you must first desire to draw closer to God. You live in a world that is constantly trying to draw you away from God, and God longs for you to forsake the things of this world and come unto HIM. As you make sacrifices away from worldly things, God is able to bless you in ways that you could never imagine.

You have probably memorized Psalms 37:4-5, Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. In order to obtain the desires of your heart, you need to learn to first start delighting in HIM, you need to start committing your way unto HIM. You must make the sacrifices that are necessary to put God first in your life.

You will never make the sacrifices necessary to obtain wisdom and knowledge if you do not see the value in obtaining these gifts from God. Just as an Olympic athlete understands the prize that is available to the one who finishes first, so too must you understand the spiritual benefit of obtaining wisdom and knowledge. An Olympic athlete will make great sacrifices in order to become the best in their discipline. They will put the rest of their life on hold in order to obtain a gold medal and a few minutes of fame and praises of man. Why should you not be willing to make some sacrifices in order to those gifts from God that are eternal?

Jesus commanded us in the Sermon on the Mount that we are to ask so that we shall receive, seek so that we shall find, knock so that it shall be open unto us. Just because we have asked Jesus to be our personal Lord and Savior, it does not mean that we do not have an obligation to obtain a closer walk with God. Every day we must prepare our heart to love the Lord with all our heart and to put HIM first in our lives. Every day the world will try to distract you with the things of this world, but by the grace of God, you can overcome. You must learn the value of the things of God and then you must make an effort in order to obtain those things.

Knowledge of the ways of God is an important part of your Christian life. We are told that we are supposed to add knowledge to our faith and virtue. Unless we take the time to understand the value of knowledge, we will never pursue it as we should. We need to purse wisdom and knowledge just as a dog pursues a ball that you threw to it – the dog will run as fast as he can until the ball is his. What are you going to do today in order to obtain wisdom and knowledge?

Matthew 15:27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters� table.

A woman from Canaan came to Jesus requesting that HE heal her daughter who was possessed with a devil. Jesus ignored her. She continued to be persistent until Jesus’ disciples came to HIM and requested that HE send her away. Jesus told the woman that HE was sent to minister until Israelites. The woman did not leave but worshiped Jesus. Jesus then told the woman that “It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and cast it to dogs.” The woman replied that she was at least entitled to the crumbs. Jesus then acknowledged her great faith and healed her daughter.

This woman understood what she wanted and she was not going to stop asking Jesus for her daughter’s healing. Jesus ignored her, told her HE was not called to help her and even called her a dog but that did not stop her from pursuing the desire of her heart. This woman had to ask, seek and knock in order to obtain from Jesus healing for her daughter.

This woman asked Jesus for her daughters healing and she did not receive it right away. This woman had sought out Jesus and HE did not immediately give her the desires of her heart. This woman was so persistent she made herself a nuisance as she continued to knock and because of her persistence, Jesus did give her what she requested eventually.

Jesus commended this woman for her great faith. She demonstrated great faith because she was willing to be persistent in her prayers. This woman understood the good things that Jesus could give to her and she was not willing to stop until she received healing for her daughter. This woman was recognized for her great faith because she had changed her mindset to pursue Jesus until she received what she came for.

You have read Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount where you are to “ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you”. You know that Jesus said “how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” You understand that God can do the impossible. However, do you have the mindset required to be persistent in prayer? Are you willing to have your request rejected by God several times before HE eventually gives you your request?

Jesus never promised that once you ask, you will receive it right away. Jesus never promised that once you seek, you will find it immediately. Jesus never promised that once you knocked, the door would immediately be opened. You must change your perspective of God. You must understand that while God is capable of giving you the good things that you request immediately, HE does not have to do it that way.

You must change your perspective when you come to God in prayer. If you are so wrapped up in yourself and your desires, you can quickly lose sight that God desires you to pursue HIM. Why should God give you your request? Is your life full of virtue so that you know when you made this request that the fulfillment of this request will further God’s work through you here on this earth? God desires that your mind and heart be full of HIM so that when HE gives you your request, you will recognize that HE answered your prayer and gave you those good things that you need.

Hebrews 11:9-10 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Abraham was called of God to leave his home and to dwell in the land that the Lord had promised to him. Abraham was not allowed to build a house but was required to simply sojourn in the land living in his tent. In verse eight of the same chapter, God commends Abraham’s faith for obeying the calling and leaving his home country. Now in these verses, Abraham is commended for his faith of continued obedience in staying in the land and for his faith in not establishing a permanent dwelling. Abraham had been told of God that the promise land was to be given to his descendants. However, he was told that they were to remain strangers in the land and that there would be a period of 400 years where his descendants would be afflicted (Gen. 15:13) until God giving them the land.

By faith Abraham obeyed. By faith Abraham continued to obey. By faith Abraham did not establish a permanent dwelling. Instead, Abraham was required to live at peace with the inhabitance of a foreign land since it was by their permission that he was able to dwell therein. Abraham was constantly moving because he was constantly seeking for the place where the Lord desired for him to establish himself.

Sometimes we do not demonstrate our faith to God by a simple one-time act of obedience. Sometimes God requires that we demonstrate our faith in what HE has told us to do by a constant obedience to a calling that seems strange or foreign unto us. When God gives one a calling, they are to obey that calling. They are to establish their path in such a way as to ensure that they are obeying the direction of the Lord. Sometimes this will be a simple one-time act of obedience, whereas other times one will have to continue to ask, seek, and knock to determine the Lord’s daily will for their life.

People probably thought Abraham was crazy because he simply would not settle down anywhere. Abraham probably had a few conversations with God regarding when the Lord would allow him to establish himself in this country that God had promised to him. Abraham’s faith was surely tested over the years as he had to continue to sojourn in the land of promise. He was so close to what the Lord told him belonged to him but he was never going to obtain it.

God has many different lessons of faith that HE desires to teach HIS children. While God may not be calling you to live in a strange country in a tent for the rest of your life, the Lord may ask you to live day by day with HIS provision and direction. God may desire to use your faith of daily obedience to HIM to create a testimony that will be told for thousands of years. Often missionaries are required to demonstrate the faith of Abraham in that they have to leave their home and dwell in a foreign country relying upon God to not only provide for their needs but also to give them peace with those whom they dwell among so that they can fulfill the Lord�s work in the strange land.

By faith Abraham sojourned and continued to obey God’s command in his life. By faith you will demonstrate your trust by not only obeying the Lord’s commandment in your life once, but by a continual obedience to the direction and calling of God.