Charles Stanley Daily Devotional (January 12, 2025) Learning to Pray the Bible Way.
Jesus tells us to ask, seek, and knock when we pray.
Matthew 7:7-11 - `Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 ``For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 ``Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? 10 ``Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11 ``If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!
Prayer has many benefits. For one thing, God delights in giving, so He wants His children to speak with Him regularly and ask for what’s on their heart. He also desires to fellowship with us, which happens when we spend time alone with Him. And, of course, communing with God is a way we discover wisdom for living and find “fullness of joy” in His presence (Psalm 16:11 - You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.).
The privilege of prayer belongs to all who have a relationship with the Father through faith in His Son (John 1:12 - But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name). God has also pledged to answer the sinner who asks for forgiveness and receives Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord (Romans 10:9 - that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved).
In today’s passage, Jesus uses three verbs to describe prayer: ask, seek, and knock. Notice the progression in intensity from a request to a search and then to action. Prayer is more than giving God a list of wants. It involves seeking His will to guide our requests. It means “knocking on doors” by exploring different solutions and obtaining godly counsel. Jesus assured us that we will receive, we will find, and God will open the door.
Prayer is simple, yet at times we find it hard to practice. Ask the Lord to teach you more about what happens when you speak to Him. Put into practice what you learn and wait confidently for His answers!
Bible in One Year: Genesis 39-41
