A Magnolia's Heart Beats

WFW - Ask...Seek...Knock

It's a promise written in red in the Bible. The very words Christ spoke then are still relevant today.

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." ~ Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)

I believe with all my heart that we are sorely lacking when we don't ask, seek and knock. What about you? Do you believe it? At least 3 of you do. (I voted in my own poll, hah hah! I know many didn't see the poll because of the holidays and all...it was a quick thing, really...)

The Greek word for ask in Luke 11:9 is aiteō, which means:

1) to ask, beg, call for, crave, desire, require

The Greek word for seek is zēteō, which means:

1) to seek in order to find
a) to seek a thing
b) to seek [in order to find out] by thinking, meditating, reasoning, to enquire into
c) to seek after, seek for, aim at, strive after
2) to seek i.e. require, demand
a) to crave, demand something from someone

The Greek word for knock is krouō, which means:

1) to knock: at the door

What kind of things are you asking for, seeking, and knocking at the door of God's heart for? I believe if we have a sincere need or want that we can ask, seek, knock and it will be given to us. Our Father withholds no good thing from us. He longs for us to ask him for the desires of our heart, to seek out wisdom and to knock down the walls of sin in our lives. If we ask anything in His Name and under His will, He will not deny us. His will is different than our own, but ultimately, the gift is there for the taking. He promises it in Luke 11:9.

Our Savior isn't saying that our Father will grant us every little desire and petition we make known to Him through prayer, but I believe what He might be saying here is that when we have questions, He'll provide the answers. When we seek, we will find what God wants us to find. When we knock, doors will be opened to us that we could never have imagined. If our hearts are receptive to the will of God, we will find that He has given us what we never knew to ask, seek or knock for, and it will be just what we needed all along.

I love the sequence of words of Christ used here. Knocking is stronger than seeking. Seeking is stronger than asking.

When we ask for something, we're expressing a desire to know or be known, a desire to have something fulfilled. Seeking is more intense. We're searching, aiming for, craving. And finally, knocking is something tangible, requiring us to move our hand.

God's desire is to bless us and help us in our time of need.

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." ~ James 1:5 (NIV, Emphasis, mine)

"The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God." ~ Psalm 14:2 (NIV, Emphasis, mine)

"For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." ~ Luke 11:10 (NIV, Emphasis, mine)

Father, may we always ask, seek and knock as You have directed us to do through Your Son's most precious words. Thank You for being a God who loves us and offers us such mercy and grace. Thank You for each precious gift you give. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." ~ James 1:17 (NIV

The purpose of WFW is to share the Word of God through photo's and a verse. Amydeanne, over at The 160 Acre Woods, is our hostess. Be sure to link up and share your own, and drop her a thank you for hosting this wonderful meme each week. It always blesses my heart to read all the posts and see the photos and verses. This is a wonderful way to minister to others and to be ministered to by reading others posts. Please visit by clicking on the button below.