H
AVE YOU EVER PRAYED, taking Jesus at His word— We have to diligently carry out each part of Christ’s direc-
“Ask and you shall receive”—and then felt your tions. Notice, too, that only one-third of Christ’s instructions
prayer went unanswered? Most of us probably have focus on asking God for help, and the two remaining directives
had that experience. No doubt some prayers go require us to do our part in getting the prayers answered.
unanswered because we prayed for something that would be “Ask, and you will receive” seems pretty straightforward. But
harmful to us or that isn’t in harmony with God’s will. On the do you know what you really want from God? When we take
other hand, prayers sometimes go unanswered simply because our requests to God, we need to be specific. If you pray for a
we don’t do what Christ told us to do. new job, good health for your aging parents, or success in
At His disciples’ request, Jesus taught them (and us) how to school for your children, what precisely do you mean? What
pray (Luke 11:1-4), using what is commonly called the Lord’s does success in school look like to you? What kind of job
Prayer. Only a few verses later in this passage, we read the words appeals to you? When we ask precisely for something, we also
“Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, have a clear picture of what we want or need. Then the work
and it will be opened to you” (v. 9, NKJV). begins—for us.
Many of us latch onto the “Ask, and you will receive” part, “Seek, and you will find” clearly tells us that once we’ve
thinking we need only pray for something and God will grant prayed, we need to take action. We can’t simply sit back and
our wish, like an indulging parent. Either that or we think we wait for God’s miraculous intervention. If you want a better job,
can’t take literally that part of Scripture because we know God an employer probably isn’t going to come looking for you. It
isn’t about to give us everything we ask for. But maybe some could happen, but it is more likely that you’ll have to fully par-
prayers go unanswered because we haven’t followed directions. ticipate in finding that new job.
We pray (ask) fervently for something and ignore Christ’s two You have to seek so you can find. For example, you would
additional directions: “Seek, and you will find” and “Knock, and seek out companies and organizations that hire people with
it will be opened to you.” your mixture of talents and abilities. You would let friends,
There’s
More to
ASKING
Than Just
ASKING
by Richard Bauman
10 EVANGEL • MAR 2008
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