In Christianity, we have stopped asking, searching, and knocking for so long that we have even forgotten where the door of mercy is!
What do I mean by this sentence? Well, when was the last time we actually talked to God the Father and pleaded with Him about a specific problem that might be ours or someone else’s?
Have we honestly prayed for anything or anyone in the past few days? Again, when was the last time we just talked to God to thank Him for what He has done in our lives?
We always seem to pray for the big things, but we seem to forget to pray for the small, mundane things. There are times when our prayers seem to go unanswered. We may be discouraged.
Praying to God
Answers to prayers and events are based on God’s timing, not ours. So, what should we do when we come to the mercy seat and ask the Father for ourselves or someone else?
In Christianity, Jesus tells us to constantly seek God. Some people give up after a few weak attempts and assume that God cannot be found. But it is important to understand that finding God requires faith, focus and pursuit.
Jesus assures us that our efforts will be rewarded. We should not give up trying to find God. Continue to ask Him for more patience, love, knowledge, wisdom and understanding. He will give them to us (Matthew 7:7-8).
It’s not a guarantee that we can get anything we want by basically asking Jesus and believing. God does not give us things that harm us, others, or are against His nature or will.
The word of Jesus is by no means a free and unlimited license. For our prayers to be answered, our requests must be in line with the principles of seeking God’s kingdom.
The stronger our faith and conviction, the more certain our requests will be in accordance with God’s will, and then God will be pleased to grant them to us (Matthew 22:21).
Jesus, our model for prayer, when he pleaded, said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me. But not what I will, but what you will” (Mark 14:36). Our prayers and requests are often influenced by our own desires and needs.
We like to hear that we can have anything. However, Jesus prayed for the fulfillment of God’s will. When we pray, we should express our desires, but we should ask that His will come before ours.
We need to examine ourselves to see if our requests are centered around our desires or God’s desires (Mark 11:24).
Abide in Him, says Jesus. It refers to those who are truly attached to the true vine and thus bear spiritual fruit (John 15:1-6). It also refers to those in whom His word dwells.
It resembles a strong, personal, nurturing relationship, just like the relationship between a plant and its branches. In other passages, Jesus unequivocally relates the answer to prayer to God’s will (Matthew 6:10; Matthew 26:39).
2. Seeking God in prayer
We should not act as if God is like a snack or soda machine from which we can choose whatever we want. Directed prayer only happens when what we are asking is necessary for God’s will (John 15:7).
Have you ever gotten tired of praying for something or someone? According to Paul, we must “persevere in prayer,” that is, we must not stop praying. Perseverance shows our faith that God will answer our prayers.
Faith must not languish and die under the assumption that answers will come too late, for delay may be God’s way of working out His will in our lives.
Whenever we feel tired in our prayers, we should know that God is available, He is always listening to us and He is always working; Maybe not in the ways we expected, but in the ways He knows is ideal (Colossians 2:4).
God does not answer any frivolous or childish request. To “ask in faith” means to ask with confidence that God will align our desires with His purposes.
A mind that doubts (“without doubt”) is not fully convinced that God’s way is ideal. God’s word is treated like any human guidance that has the option of disobeying.
This mind fluctuates between feelings, worldly thoughts and God’s commands. If our faith is new, weak, or struggling, we must remember that God is trustworthy. We must be faithful to him. To balance our trembling or doubting minds, we must submit ourselves completely to God (James 1:5-6).
If our conscience is truly clean, we can come to God without fear, confident that our petitions will be heard. John confirms the promise of Jesus: “Ask, and it will be given to you” (Matthew 7:7; Matthew 21:22; John 9:31; John 15:7). When we obey, we will gain.
When we obey, we ask according to God’s will. Obviously, this does not mean that we can have whatever we want, such as instant wealth. If we are truly seeking God’s will, there are few requests we should not make (1 John 3:21-22).
The emphasis here is on God’s will, not ours. When we talk to God, we are not asking for what we want, but talking to Him about what He wants for us.
If we adjust our requests to his will, he hears us; And we can be sure that when he hears us, he will give us a different answer (1 John 5:14).
3. What does knocking mean in prayer?
In John 16:23, Jesus refers to a new relationship between God and the Christian. Before, priests were mediators for people to reach God.
After the resurrection of Jesus, believers could go directly to God. A completely new era has begun, and now all believers are considered priests, where they can speak directly and intimately to God (Hebrews 10:19-23).
We can come to God not on our own merit, but because Jesus, our wonderful High Priest, has made us acceptable to God.
Pay attention to the beginning of the chapter (John 11:2-4), what was the order of prayer that Jesus taught to his disciples? Jesus first praised God, then made his requests.
Often times, our prayers are more like a shopping list than a two-way conversation with God. This teaching does not mean that selfish requests will be granted.
It means that there will be receiving, finding, and opening of doors for one who asks, seeks, and knocks according to God’s will.
Today in the article : What Does it Mean to Ask, Seek, and Knock in Prayer? We reviewed useful information about the Bible and the way of Jesus. If you wish, you can view other articles of Ali Vahidi about Christianity
