Praying Effectively and Persistently (Matthew 7:7–11)
Earlier in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught what has come to be known as the Lord';s Prayer, which is in essence a model prayer containing all the elements of effective prayer, the kind God likes to hear. Later on Jesus picked up again on the theme of prayer (a common theme in his earthly ministry) when he implied very strongly that prayer was a matter of persistence, hard work, and seeking an answer: “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened” (Matthew 7:7–8).
Jesus taught his followers that this ask-seek-knock form of prayer is effective because we have a heavenly Father who loves us far beyond what even the most doting mother and father could imagine. As Matthew 7:9–11 illustrates: “You parents — if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.”
The writer of Hebrews echoed this theme of approaching God and asking with confidence and persistence when he wrote: “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most” (Hebrews 4:16).
Jesus wanted us to realize that God isn';t some disinterested celestial personality but a loving heavenly Father who wants to bless those who will come to him and humbly ask for what they need.
Study Questions
What in your physical, personal, emotional, or spiritual life do you need to begin asking God to give you today?
How does Jesus';s teaching that God';s love compels him to give good gifts to those who persistently ask him compare with your own perceptions today?
