Matthew 7:7-11- “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Good morning!
The more important the person, the odds of being able to communicate with them drastically decreases. I’m willing to go out on a limb and assume none of you have a direct line to the President. If we were to call today and ask the President for a simple request, it’s just not happening… I think it’s fair to say that it would be difficult to do the same with other high-ranking officials… Vice President, Speaker of the House, Governor, and etc. If you make a call, well…. you’re just not getting through to them. (Though I have seen where Macon’s Mayor does interact with the public regularly on Facebook…. Thanks, Lester!)

Here Jesus tells His followers that we have access to the most powerful being in all the universe. The Alpha and the Omega… The Great I am…. wants us to experience His goodness through prayer. I would even suggest that the use of “ask,” “seek,” and “knock” is more of a command than just a desire. The truth that we are allowed to approach the Almighty in prayer should bring humility, gratitude and encouragement to our souls!

This passage is indeed an encouragement, but if I’m completely honest, it can be a bit perplexing as well… I’m sure you’re like me and have asked God for something in prayer and did not receive what you asked. Maybe this passage has been a struggle for you… Maybe you’ve questioned whether this is a promise we can trust and lean into…I believe the answer to our confusion lies in verses 9-11 which points to the goodness of our Father in heaven!
My children have a way of always asking for something… and I have to say, I love being able to give them things when I can, especially the gifts that are good! However, sometimes they do ask for things that are not best for them, in which case, I tell them no. There’s no way I would hand over a “serpent” when they ask for a “fish” or a “stone” when they ask for “bread.” And here’s the reality- I don’t always know what is best! But… Our Father in heaven does!

Here is what Jesus is teaching us: you have a Father in heaven who always knows what is best for you! So, when you ask of Him, you can be confident that He stands ready to give everything that is good for you, everything that is best for you. When I ask for fish, He doesn’t give a serpent. Because of this, I can trust His goodness, even when He doesn’t respond in the way I would hope to my prayers.

Here’s my encouragement as we begin our week together- let’s be fervent in our asking, seeking and our pleading before God…… Let’s approach God with confidence and faith that He hears us and that He will respond to our prayers. But let’s also believe that His response is driven by His wisdom more than our desires and believe that however He responds, He will respond in the overflow of a good Father who loves His children.

-Taylor