Ask...Seek...Knock

"And I say to you, Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you." Luke 11:9

I get it that God's thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways are not our ways. If we could know everything there is to know about Him and figure out every aspect of His plan for our lives...well...we wouldn't need Him much, would we? Still, our human nature loves to be in the driver's seat of life -and to foresee all of the twists and turns that lie ahead. We want to know the 'why' the 'where' and the 'how' of every situation. But that's not happening anytime soon for the child of God to whom God has said, "You walk by faith and not by sight."

Ok...ok...we say....but we don't want that faith walk to last too long. We want God to step on the scene and do what we're asking Him to do... quickly.

But sometimes that doesn't happen. In fact...I know a few people who right now are long past what they perceived to be their due date. You know the day they expected God to deliver them or heal them, find them a job or bring their lost loved one home.They feel as dejected as when that unpaid bill arrives in their mail box with PAST DUE stamped in over-sized piercing black letters for everyone to see. Like an over-due pregnant Mom the heaviness and pressure of what they're carrying is becoming more than they can bear.

Is your miracle past-due?

Yesterday I had an edifying conversation with an elder I admire greatly. Presently, and for the past few months, she has been struggling with a health issue that has, for the most part, confined her to bed. A place she ususally wouldn't care to be except at night to sleep. Pain has been an ever-present companion. This coupled with limited mobility has presented a great challenge for my friend. A challenge of faith. But even more than this...a challenge of enduring faith. I'm sure you're thinking, "So, what's the difference?" And that's a tricky question. In God's eyes, I don't think there is a difference. Faith is faith. But for those of us who are still in the waiting room with the very real possibility that God's answer may be not now-that word makes all the difference.

I believe that faith is the main thing. I don't think we should EVER stop believing or ever give up asking, seeking and knocking in prayer. I see a kind of progression in the use of words here. It's like Jesus is telling us....teaching us....that faith is somthing that must be exercised and stretched in order that it may endure. Why didn't He just stop at "Ask, and it shall be given to you? Between those lines, I hear Him saying," Ok My child...what will you do if you aren't given what you ask for right away? Will you stop there? Will you give up? Will you lose faith? Or will you continue by seeking? The word 'seeking' adds a sense of longing to the asking. And if after seeking awhile and you don't find will you then knock? The word 'knock' means to strike with a hard blow or to affect in a specified way by striking hard. In other words when faith has had to endure for a prolonged period, rather than fading or wavering it becomes more passionate and persistent until finally the door swings open!

Remember in the 18th chapter of Luke when Jesus asks, "...when the Son of Man* returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?" (verse 8) Of course, this verse must be read in context and it is interesting to note that this verse is part of the story of the unjust judge and the importunate (persistent) widow. I encourage you to read the parable, perhaps even a few times...especially if you, like this widow are presently oppressed by some unknown adversary. She went to the judge and 'asked' for deliverence. But the judge was unmoved by the validity of her case.

LESSON: God doesn't respond to our situation. He responds to our faith in the situation.

The parable clearly illustrates that it was the woman's persistence that brought a decision in her favor. She didn't stop after asking. She continued to seek and to knock. The Lord explained to the disciples that if an unjust judge would act on behalf of a widow because of her importunity, how much more will He intervene on behalf of His people?

Don't give up!!!!!!!