Message Magazine’s Online Devotional for Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Listen to “Thoughts in Worship 04.26.2017” on Spreaker.
“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. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” (Matthew 7:7–11).
How Long Can You Wait?
How long does it take for you to give up when you ask God something? I mean, if you ask Him a question and you do not discern the answer, how long does it take before you stop? How long before you stop seeking His guidance? How long do you knock on heaven’s door before you walk away discouraged? Something to think about, isn’t it?
Guess what? God wants nothing more than to answer your prayers, be found of you, and to throw open the windows of heaven’s blessings in your direction. The problem is too many of us take our asking, seeking, and knocking lightly. We don’t seek hard after God as a thirsty deer seeks water in a brook. We don’t press our way toward God half as much as money hungry business people aspire to their next million. We don’t yearn for His presence like people with chronic pain yearn for relief, or near drowning victims yearn for firm footing and their next breath. Could it be that we are just one more day from that tremendous outcome we once desired, but gave up on? Could it be that God was working on your tenacity and purifying your desires, but you stopped short?
Keep Seeking
Today’s thought is far from a mere motivational speech to drive you to your next level of living. It’s an entreaty to those who wish to seek God like life itself. It’s a clarion call for you to keep asking; keep seeking; keep knocking until the Lord gives you the gifts that are for your best good. Keep petitioning God until you want nothing more than to hear His voice. The blessing is that this is not a stab in the dark where the outcome is unsure. If you continue seeking unto your God for all your desires, He will purify them, you, and then give you whatever will bring you closest to Him. And when He does, you will be so glad He did.
Don’t give up. Keep asking, seeking, and knocking. While you’re at it, ask for a healthy portion of God’s Spirit too. He will grant you the desires of your heart.
