God has been teaching me so much about asking, seeking, and knocking. Here is the text that inspired this lesson:

 “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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

     “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:7-11).

AMAZING PRINCIPLES

1. Asking, seeking and knocking aren not just about prayer. They are hinges upon which most life in doors open and close—including the kingdom of God.
2. Asking is about connection. Asking a complete stranger a question unites us, even if I’m just asking for directions to the post office. 
3. Seeking is about a journey. What are you looking for? Aiming for? Longing for? I can seek for something in particular, or my seeking can be motivated by the mystery of what I don’t yet know.
4. Knocking is about access. We find a door, either literal or metaphorical, and it is closed to us. The knock acknowledges that someone is on the other side. They have the power to grant us access to what the door is preventing us from experiencing. This is where we get the idea of gatekeepers—those who decide who can have access to what, and how much.
5. Those three verbs extend our reach. Asking, seeking, knocking are what we do when we’ve done all we can do and it’s not enough.
6. Asking, seeking and knocking keep us from abusing others. How? They rule out manipulation and bullying. Asking (versus demanding) imbues the people who receive the request with respect and power. We are acknowledging their autonomy. We are at their mercy. They are free to decline. 

PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE 

Picture a typical scenario at the dinner table. The salt shaker is sitting in front of a family member, just out of your reach. You could lean into their space, reach across their plate, and snag it—or you could use your words. Let’s try a few options: 

“Pass the salt.” That’s a demand. 

“Please pass the salt.” That’s still a demand, with a little respect thrown in.

“Would you please pass the salt?” Is a question. That question is the key.

 Now: Because asking, seeking and knocking describe how the world works, we should be careful how we use them:

A WORD OF CAUTION

“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matt. 7:9-11).

Christ isn’t just showing us the character of the Father here. He’s also reminding us to be careful. There is one out there who will give you a stone or a snake—the ancient serpent himself. 

God isn’t the only one listening, friends. Be careful what you ask for, because you might just get it. Mind what you seek, because you’ll find it. Be careful which doors you knock on, because doors will open.

When we dabble with New Age “manifesting,” knock on occult doors through horoscopes, pique our curiosity with demonic books and movies, palm reading, psychics, or other spiritual counterfeits, we’re playing with fire.

The Egyptian sorcerers kept up with Moses’ first few miracles in Pharaoh’s court because they were dialled in to dark power. There are connections you don’t want to make. Doors you don’t want to open. Access you don’t want to have.

“So please… ask the Father,” Jesus says. “He’s the One you can trust. He will only give you what you need—what’s good for you and gives him glory.” 

ONE LAST APPLICATION

Others are seeking, too. They will make asks of us. They will knock on our doors. We can turn them away, or we can give them access to what we’ve been given. We can share it freely, because we know what we have is a gift from a benevolent Father. There’s more where that came from! Generosity flows from healthy asking, seeking, and knocking in prayer. 

 Selah.

Take the journey of asking, seeking, and knocking with your Father. Ask him to show you how to use these tools wisely in your own walk with him!