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Prepare Your Heart
To the best of your ability, get rid of all distractions. Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and quiet yourself in the Lord’s presence. Then, ask the Lord to speak to you in this time. Let Him know that you will listen and make whatever adjustments He will reveal to you.
Read God’s Word
A Verse for Today
Slowly and reflectively read the following verse(s) and listen to what God will say to you through His written Word. Consider writing down any insights He reveals to you.
Matthew 7:7-8 (CSB): “Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Reflecting on God’s Word
I am someone who believes that my Bible is God’s Word. From the beginning of Genesis, where it says, “In the beginning,” to the final “Amen” of Revelation, I am thoroughly convinced that it is God’s inerrant Word.
Yet, there was a time when I looked at the claims of Matthew 7:7-8 and wondered if it really worked. After all, it seems to tell me that all I need to do is “ask,” “seek,” and “knock,” and God will give me what I am asking for. Yet, in my own personal experience, that hasn’t happened. So, are the truth claims of Matthew 7:7-8 accurate?
Yes … if we understand what they really mean!
I do not believe that Christians need to be fluent in the original languages that the Bible was written in (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek) in order to understand it. But we may miss the complete meaning of a text if we don’t at least learn to use some resources to help us dig into the original languages.
For instance, when we read Matthew 7:7-8 in most of our English translations, it is made to sound like all we need to do is ask one time, seek one time, and knock one time. But that’s not at all what Jesus said or intended.
When Matthew originally wrote this in Greek (the common language that tied the Roman world together), he used the present tense. When a verb is written in the present tense in Greek, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is happening in the present. Instead, the primary emphasis is that the action is ongoing. It is continuous.
So, if we were to translate Matthew 7:7-8 using this knowledge, we realize that Jesus is calling for us to be persistent in our prayers, not to stop until we either get what we are asking for or the Lord reveals that He will not answer our request.
Matthew 7:7-8 (CSB with present tense emphasis): “Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep seeking, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps asking receives, and the one who keeps seeking finds, and to the one who keeps knocking, the door will be opened.”
Clearly, Jesus desires that we wrestle with Him in prayer like Jacob wrestled with the Lord (Genesis 32:24-32). He wants us to struggle with Him until we get what we are asking for, just like the widow who persistently went to the unjust judge (Luke 18:1-8).
Maybe we don’t get many answers to our prayers because we think it’s a “one and done.” And when we don’t get answers, we get discouraged and question if prayer really works when the problem actually lies in our failure to comply with biblical prayer principles.
So, my friend, take Matthew 7:7-8 to heart. Claim it is a promise of God (which is precisely what it is!). And develop a renewed fervor for wrestling with God in prayer until you get what you are asking for or until He reveals that He is not going to answer your prayer, and you will need to simply trust Him.
Spend Time in Prayer
Lord Jesus, while prayer is a simple concept, I realize that there is much about this spiritual discipline that I do not fully understand. Help me, Lord, to grow in my understanding of what it means to wrestle with You in prayer, persistently calling upon You to act. As the disciples once said to You, please teach me to pray. Amen.
Going Deeper
“Got Questions” has a very helpful article that digs a bit deeper into the parable of the unjust judge and the widow. Simply click on the following title: “What can we learn from the parable of the persistent widow and unjust judge?”
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Matt Ellis is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Polk City, Florida (fbcpolkcity.com).
Matt’s Musings 
True, never stop praying.. I asked God to answer some prayers for 20+ years and one was answered yes & the other was no. I have had very few prayers that were answered immediately, if I only asked once, His answer is usually no.
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Great reflections, Paul! Thanks for sharing, brother!
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