“How do we pray?” The disciples asked this question one day, after observing how Jesus talked to the Father. They probably craved the intimacy that they saw in Jesus’ prayer time. Jesus had lots to teach about life, relationships and God and the people had a lot to learn. And so, Jesus gave them an outline of prayer, which, most of us have memorized if we spent any time in Sunday School and church growing up:
“Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.”
Why does Jesus share this ‘prayer formula’ with the disciples? Jesus didn’t share the Lord’s Prayer with them to give them a “one way only” way to pray. He didn’t even give it to them as a guideline or a formula to follow. Jesus shared these words with the disciples to show them a heart posture to have. Just before He shares His prayer, Jesus warns the disciples to not pray in big, loud and repetitious ways to make a show of themselves in front of others: “your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you” (Matt. 6:6). What’s the heart posture that Jesus is asking us to have in Matthew 9-13? First, “Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name”. This verse reflects a heart to glorify God and to acknowledge Him for who He is as we pray. Second, “Your Kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Here, Jesus is asking us to seek God’s will above our own. To be selfless and to be God focused people. That perspective changes everything we do. Third, “Give us this day our daily bread” is a call to be people of faith. To trust in God and rely on Him for everything. Fourth, “forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors”. We must willingly receive the loving act of forgiveness from our Heavenly Father and to live as forgiven people. Forgiven people have restored relationship with God. Forgiven people should also be willing to forgive others. This verse speaks to having a right heart before our God and also having grace-filled relationships with people. And lastly, “do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” This reflects a heart attitude that understands and walks in the victory of the Lord. Talk to God in these ways – because our heart attitudes matter to Him, more than even the things that we are praying for or asking about.
Often times, when we think about prayer, the Lord’s Prayer is where we go. And, it’s where we stop. But, as you continue reading into Matthew 7, you will read three important words for prayer. Three words that I think can be, not necessarily a formula for prayer, but three reminders of action in prayer attached to three promises. These three words I believe are tied to Salvation, but I think they can also be a reminder of things to remember when praying. They bring us back to the moment we accepted Jesus and they go back to the foundation of our faith. They are words that should permeate not just our salvation moment but our prayer lives. The words are: Ask, Seek and Knock.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8
Our first reminder word and promise in prayer is “ask”. Jesus says, “Ask and it will be given to you.” Jesus tells us to ask things of God. It’s okay and it’s good to pray and ask things of God. That means that you can pray and ask God for personal things. This could mean asking Him for help because you’re struggling to love that co-worker or because you have a big presentation tomorrow that you’re worried about. Asking can also be done on behalf of others. Perhaps in your small group time Lydia asks for prayer for healing or John needs God to come through in some impossible way so that he can pay rent this week. It’s a privilege to come before Jesus and ask Him for things on behalf of other people. I believe that when Jesus says “ask” – these are the types of things that He’s talking about. Later on in Matthew 7:11, Jesus reminds us that our Father is good and that He gives good gifts. We serve a God that gives. He gives. The characteristics that God asks us to have in our own lives are things that he exemplifies perfectly. God asks us to be generous people. He only asks that of us because He is a perfectly generous God. So ASK, and your Father in Heaven who loves you beyond measure, delights in listening to the asks of your heart and who is good and generous will give to you.
Next, Jesus tells us to “seek”. The promise that we are told we will receive when we seek is that we will find. When you look, and when you do so with all of your heart, you will not come up empty handed. In prayer, what do we seek? We seek God. When we pray we are seeking to share with and meet with the Creator. Jesus is telling us to be people who seek. We shouldn’t just be people who ask but also people who seek. We should seek to meet with God and to know Him and experience a sense of His presence. God lets Himself be known and revealed by the one who seeks: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” Jeremiah 29:13. When we come before God in prayer we should never forget to seek Him out. He is waiting for us to seek, for if we come with hearts looking and longing for Him and to know more about Him, then He promises us that we will find Him. What an amazing and lovely promise!
Lastly, we are told to “knock”. When you picture knocking, what do you picture? I see myself walking up to a door, scrunching my hand into a fist and rapping once or twice on a hard, tapered wood door. Why do we knock on doors? We knock to let someone know that we are there and that we would like to come in. You knock on the door to ask the owner of the house if you can come in. Typically, (unless you’re my friends!) you don’t just knock and proceed to open the door. Usually you knock and then you wait. It is the owner of the house who opens the door and either says “come in!”, Or “Come back later!”, Or “Don’t come in!” However the owner of the home greets you will determine on what you do next. In prayer, I think Jesus is asking us to knock because He wants us to be people of prayer. He wants us to, instead of just going and doing things, to pray about them first. Knocking on the door shows a heart willing to jump to action. Knocking also shows a heart willing to wait on the Owner for a response. Knocking shows a heart willing to ‘ask’ and bring God into all moments of our lives rather than to choose to go alone. The promise tied to the knock is that “the door will be opened.” When we knock and we come before God, He will answer the door. He will speak to us. We might not always like what He says, but He promises He will answer. I used to think that God didn’t speak to me. Then one day, I sat and I ‘knocked’ and I actually quieted my heart to listen. Now, I realize that it isn’t that He doesn’t speak, but that I don’t listen. So, be people who knock.
In Matthew 7, verse 8 seems to be repetitive of verse 7. Jesus tells us the three words, “ask, seek and knock” and He tells us their promises. Then, why does He need to reiterate it? First, Jesus shares it very personally. He is talking to “YOU”. “Seek, and YOU will find.” And, just in case you are like me and doubt that was actually for YOU (even though, it’s pretty obvious) He makes sure to say, in verse 8, that this applies to everyone. Yup, that means even you! This is for you. This is for everyone. So, be people who ask, seek and knock and our God, who loves us and gives generously to us will keep the promises attached to each of these. He will keep those promises to everyone. He will keep those promises to YOU. Yes, you!
Jesus speaks of the Lord’s Prayer first in Matthew 6, and then, through the words “ask, seek, and knock”, He takes us deeper. Test your heart. Have the right heart motives before the Lord, as shared in the Lord’s Prayer, and then, you will be people who are ready to wholeheartedly and faithfully ask, seek, and knock. Give God your whole self and watch what happens. Be people who willingly come before Him in prayer: asking, seeking and knocking.
Written by: Justine Dueck
Refined Joy 