Keep Knocking

A scripture that “everyone” has heard is found in Matthew 7:7-8, and it reads:

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Very often though, we find ourselves wondering why we aren’t getting the things we are asking for or seeking. While there can be a variety of reasons, if what we are seeking is evil, we can expect for that request to be denied. After all…

“Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” (James 4:3)

God does not bless us for the sake of us diving deeper into our sins. Even when He forgives us of our sins, it is not for the purpose of us continuing in our wrongdoings, but rather that we may have another chance to get it right and change for the better. We are forgiven so that we can keep striving for God’s will in our lives. We have to keep seeking Him first though. The Word actually tells us to

“…seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added…” (Matthew 6:33)

So when we find that certain prayers aren’t being answered, we need to consider our priorities and the TRUE desires that we are trying to fulfill by that blessing. After all, if we are living for God, we can trust in the scriptures that teach us of God wanting to give us our hearts’ desires and those things we ask.

“And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” (1 John 3:22)

“And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” (Matthew 21:22)

Beyond that, however, we also so often simply need more patience. Sometimes our blessing simply has to mature enough to the point that it is ready and worthy to be given. Think of it like stocks and bonds, or even seedtime and harvest. Sometimes it just takes longer for the harvest of our desires to be ready. Sometimes the seeds that we planted turn out to bare bad fruit so we have to wait on one of the better trees with good fruit to produce. The investment that we thought was the one flops at the last minute, but a better one is about to give us far better results in just a little while longer. Just keep sowing and growing because it is on the way.

Think about this, scripture did not indicate the number of knocks we’d have to make before the door would be opened. We, in our impatience, want it to open after the first knock. Sometimes it takes longer. Be patient, therefore, and KEEP KNOCKING on that door UNTIL it opens. Keep asking until you receive just like your kid asking for a treat, though you are withholding the treat until he/she finishes the chores. Keep seeking until you find it, because sometimes it’s only lost because you have to finish cleaning up and once you get everything in order, it will be right there in front of you.

Don’t miss the message in those examples. Overall though, keep going and asking/seeking/knocking. The race is not given to the swift or the strong, but the one who endures… It is a marathon, not a sprint. Keep seeking, and eventually, you will find your blessing.