May 20

The Prayer Promise

For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. — Matt 7:8 BSB

These are powerful promises, but they must be understood in light of other scriptures that clarify and qualify them. Not all asking leads to receiving, because some requests aren’t true prayers. Some people ask with only words, without any genuine desire in their hearts. Others ask selfishly, seeking to use God’s gifts for their own indulgence. Some ask with a rebellious spirit, without submitting to God’s will. Others ask without faith, not really expecting an answer. Some ask lazily, unwilling to do their part. Others ask for things that wouldn’t be good for them, and God in His wisdom doesn’t grant those requests. It’s clear that in these cases, asking doesn’t result in receiving.

Similarly, not all seeking leads to finding. Seeking must be earnest. There’s a remarkable verse in the Old Testament: “You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.” The seeking must also be for good things. If we’re seeking sinful or worldly things that would harm us spiritually, God won’t give us what we’re asking for. Also, we must live in obedience. “No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” The thing we seek must be good, and we must walk in righteousness to receive the promised blessing.

In the same way, not all knocking opens the door. Some knocks are timid and lack true desire or faith, like children ringing a doorbell and then running away, not really wanting to enter. But when we knock at the right door, with faith, persistence, and expectation, the door is graciously opened. So, in understanding this wonderful promise of prayer, we must recognize that true asking, seeking, and knocking are essential for the promise to be fulfilled.