Every one that asketh receiveth

Luke 11:9-10

And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Here we read the story of the importune friend. He was the man that went to his friend at midnight to borrow three loaves, and at first was turned away, but persisted. He did not give up! He continue asking! And eventually, as the persistent man would not relent, the man lent the loaves. Now, we know that God is not reluctant to hear our prayers, and is not a sleeping giant who cannot be bothered. But there is a lesson being taught here, as the disciples had just asked the Lord to “teach us to pray.” He was teaching them not to easily give up in prayer. He was teaching them to go again and again and again. He was teaching them to be consistent and persistent. He was teaching them that the Lord will truly give to those who continue to ask. “Ask, and it shall be given you!” He says. “Seek, and ye shall find!” “Knock, and it shall be opened unto you!” And here is the statement worth meditating all day upon: “For every one that asketh receiveth.”

Every one that asketh receiveth! Every one! If we’ll just go to Him again and again, we can trust that He shall avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, although He may bear long with them. You see, Jesus here compared us to little children who ask things of their parents. The son says, “May I have a piece of bread?” Or the little girl may say, “Could I have some fish?” The child requests, “I would like some eggs.” And will you give them worse things in exchange for what they have requested? Will you give a stone for a piece of bread, a serpent for a fish, or a scorpion for an egg? Of course not! You will either give them what they ask for, or give them something better. That is what a parent will do. And we are “evil,” as the Lord says. That just means that we are sinful human beings, and He a sinless and perfect Father. And if we know how to give good things and gifts to our children, will He not give good gifts to us? Most of all, if we ask for answers and guidance, will He not give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him? Yes! He will! For He is a loving Heavenly Father.

And now I say to you, what are you asking the Lord for today? Do you fear that He has turned His ear away from you? Do you fear that He does not hear your prayer? Do you fear that He will disregard it and give you something worse than you asked? Nonsense! He will give greater things! He will give better things! He will give more than what you have asked! He will give exceeding abundantly above what you have asked! Keep asking, and you shall receive! Keep seeking, and you shall find! Keep knocking, and to you the door shall be widely opened! Oh, my dear friend, with the Lord everyone that asketh receiveth!

“Father, we thank You that You are a perfect Father, always ready to give us the best gifts. We often ask for menial, small, and lesser things. We often ask for those things that we think are best, but you know what truly is best. Therefore, we choose to believe You and trust You for this—that You will give good things to those that ask of You. And more than anything else, as we Your children ask for guidance, we know that You shall give to us Your blessed Holy Spirit. Let us not be weary in asking, seeking, and knocking. For we know that everyone who asks will receive. And we praise You for it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”