Ask and You Will Receive

Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened.
{Matthew 7: 7-8, AMP}

Seek. Ask. Knock. Almost immediately after being immersed into church culture, you’ll hear someone say, “Ask and you will receive!” Which, most often, will be followed by something like, “Jesus loves to bless His children!” This is true, and as the scripture above states, if God doesn’t answer right away, keep asking — because He will answer.

We were initially created for companionship with our Heavenly Father. He created us in His image; the only creation made by Him with a free will because, although He wanted companionship with us, He wanted us to be able to choose that relationship. If God had wanted to force a relationship between us, He would not have given us that free will.

As humans, we desire to be loved; however, do we want to force someone to love us? Goodness, no, right?! Love is so much more beautiful when it’s given freely — when someone loves you for who you are rather than because you’re making them love you.

Therefore, because we have a choice to worship Him, and when we DO love Him, it delights Him to delight us in giving us those things things that we ask for! When we live our lives in honor of Him and who He is, when we ask for something, it is His good pleasure to give it to us when it will benefit us and also bring glory to Him.

However, while God does not love us conditionally — He loves us unconditionally, there are a few things that He would love for us to do in return for our asking for whatever it is that we ask for.

But seek [aim at and strive after) first of all His Kingdom and His Righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things will be given you besides.
{Matthew 6:33, AMP}

Seek. Ask. Knock. But don’t forget to first seek the Kingdom, His righteousness, His holiness. Because after your priorities are in place — ahhh! Therein lies the beautiful blessings of answered prayers, of knocking and believing and then receiving.

Pat Barrett and Tony Brown recently wrote the contemporary Christian song “Good, Good Father.” I love this song because it represents the faithfulness and love that Jesus has for us — His prized creation, the people that He robed Himself in flesh for and came to earth in order to fulfill His promises to us:

“I’ve seen many searching for answers far and wide
But I know we’re all searching
For answers only you provide
‘Cause you know just what we need
Before we say a word

You’re a good, good father
It’s who you are, it’s who you are, it’s who you are
And I’m loved by you
It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am.”


-Good, Good Father

When you feel like you’ve asked and there hasn’t been an answer, oh, my darling — do not fear. God has not forgotten you. He has NOT abandoned you. He is not ignoring you. He may have actually already given you your answer — perhaps not the exact answer you wanted to hear, but it could be there. Or He could be waiting to see if you’re truly willing to seek His Kingdom and will above your own desires.

…how much more will your Father Who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give good and advantageous things to those who keep on asking Him!
{Matthew 7:11, AMP}

Keep on asking, darling girl. You’re searching for answers and Jesus holds every answer to every question you could ever imagine — and He knows what is good for you. Put His kingdom first. Put Him first. Keep reading His word. Keep writing in your prayer journal. Keep teaching those Bible studies. And keep asking: He loves you, He’s watching you, He knows what you need.

Keep asking — do not worry or become anxious. Ask and believe in His promises when you ask.

And whatever you ask for in prayer, having faith and [really] believing, you will receive.
{Matthew 21:22, AMP}