Matt.7:7,8 – Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
God hears prayer and God answers prayer. If we really believed that how would it effect the way we lived? If you believe whatever you ask for in the name of Jesus will be given you would anything change in your life of prayer? I would have to say “absolutely”. When reading today’s passage it becomes obvious the Lord wants to reassure us that He answers prayer. Many of us may be stuck in the age old quandary, we know He can answer our prayer but will He. That was the place the man with leprosy was when Jesus reassured Him, “I will heal you”. Answered prayer and the love of God are inseparable. If I know I am His son and He loves me, all things are possible. Here is how Andrew Murray describes this.
“Here He wants to teach us what is considered the chief thing in all Scripture concerning prayer: the assurance that prayer will be heard and answered. Observe how He uses words that mean almost the same thing, and each time He distinctly repeats the promise: You shall receive, you shall find, it shall be opened unto you. Then He gives the law of the kingdom as grounds for such assurance: For every one that asks receives, and he that seeks finds, and to him that knocks it shall be opened. We cannot but realize how in this sixfold repetition He wants to impress deep on our minds this one truth – that we may and must most confidently expect an answer to our prayer. Next to the revelation of the Father’s love, there is in the whole course of the school of prayer not a more important lesson than this: Everyone that asks receives.”
So what have you asked for recently? Even more importantly, what are you believing for Him to do? As we press into God in prayer two things happen. First we begin to get a taste of His love. This taste is like nothing else in this world, it gives us a rest no matter what we face. Secondly, this taste of love floods our heart with faith. In that unexplainable moment we know our prayer has been heard and the answer is certain.
