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"Knock" in the BIble: Matthew 7:7
It is not difficult to find spiritual truth and peace. All we need to do is look for it and ask for it, and God promises to provide it. Anyone who suggests that finding peace is more complicated than simply turning to God and asking for it is mistaken.
http://biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%207:7&version=NIV
Topics:
Knock, Door, Seek, Ask Seek Knock, Seek Find, Seek And You Shall Find, Ask Receive, Knock And The Door Will Be Opened, Seek And Ye Shall Find, Ask And It Shall Be Given
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I love this passage. But sometimes I feel like everything we read in the bible is just a well written piece of poetry about God saving us from evil. And I believe this to the point that I am more content to just imagine that there is a God and he loves me and there is a heaven and it helps me feel comforted and loved but when I actually need something physical like healing or help with friends or family it never comes unless I do something. And some may argue that it was not me that made all these good things happen but where is God in it? I make good choices and some of the advice I get from the bible. But I make choices that lead me to God and it hurts me and I feel no comfort. I just want to hear His voice clearly. I guess my point is why are there so many twists and turns in the bible? Why cant God just come and prove us all wrong?
Matthew 7: 7-12
Jesus shows us the virtue of perseverance and its application in prayer. Our motivation to persist in our service to God is the desire to draw near to Him for what He has done for us. Consider the amount of time the Apostles, and even Jesus (when He walked this Earth) spent in prayer. Now, consider how much more we need to pray, then compare it with how much time you actually spend in prayer. The Christian life does not run on autopilot. It needs persistence–constant navigational resetting, and hands-on steering. In order to line up our lives with His plan and Will, we have to be willing and able to surrender to His concerns. We do this through knowing His Word and praying.
Prayer is not a vending machine where we can pick what we want, and what we want to do. Rather, it is aligning our mindset with His. This passage has led many people to think that God is a divine bellhop who will give us what we seek, what we want if we just have enough faith. But, that is plainly not the message this passage gives to us. Yes, we are to seek, we are to knock, we are to be persistent with our prayers. But, we are not to seek just to help our selfish concerns. Prayer is seeking the Son-ship/Lord-ship of Christ because He is in control, not just because of a friendship with Him. Prayer is the instrument for seeking how to get His Will done, not our will.
Our motives, obedience, and persevering will be the key! Be in love with Him. Seek His presence, and be persistent in your prayers. If you fear you will ask Him for the wrong thing, remember, we all do that. As you draw closer to Him, you will learn the right things to ask. Prayer is persistence and learning!
http://70030.netministry.com/apps/articles/default.asp?articleid=34775&columnid=3803
Both of you have valid points. Our faith is constantly tested, especially when we are trying, diligently, to walk in the Christ-God. I can understand Digoutyoursoul where you state, making good choices, and asking from Christ-God, and not receiving. Throughout scripture, God promises to increase bounty, crops,etc. He, and in His Son’s name, heals the sick, because of faith. When going to churc, we are advised that when we tithe, in particular, then great things will begin to happen. It leaves the impression that God will only reward you when you give money – plain and simple; but when you do not tithe, you will not receive. When good things do not seem to happen for us, upon doing the right thing, in the natural state, we question scripture.
On the other hand, Rkrejcir’s point sounds like true ministry. I have always believed in God, and most of the time, feared His word – in reverence, that is. However, my faith was totally twisted. There was a time when I believed that God would only reward me if I tithed. I tried tithing and nothing seemed to happen for me. In fact, it became worse. Before really beginning to form a relationship with God and Christ, I felt that since I did good, or tithed, etc, then God owed good things to me.
As I began to surrender my entire will to God, I noticed good things, so to speak began to happen. The most important was JOY and endurance – maintaining that JOY and INNER PEACE in whatever the situation, which opened doors in ways in which God wanted for me. I began to see fruition, but in a way that God had set it up.
Don’t ever give up Digoutyoursoul. God does hear us, and He has great things in store for you. Just surrender entirely. He knows your needs and your desires.
RKrejcir, thanks for your ministry on God’s will. In fact, I was so inspired that I just asked God to show me for what to ask of Him, in alignment to His will.