Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
This passage of scripture invites us to ask and to seek, because the promise of positive results is given in the affirmative. The interpretation in the Greek means that we should continue to ask and continue to seek until that which was desired is found. Very often we give up in despair at the very time when God is just about to do great things for us, and so because we did not press our petitions to the throne of grace long enough, we sometimes miss out on a grand revelation of the power of God in our behalf.
In the parable of the widow and the judge, we observe where the correct attitude in making requests was made manifest in the way she persisted in asking, until the judge granted her desire. She did not give up on the first, second, or third try, but rather continued to ask and plead until the judge finally capitulated. Let's read:
Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; 2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: 3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. 4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
What is vastly different between this earthly judge and God is that The Lord never gets weary of hearing our petitions, but instead encourages us to keep on asking, for in due time we will reap if we faint not. There are those of us who might be looking for employment in a world that has become much more competitive than in years gone by, and we may have tried and tried again, and asked The Lord on several occasions to provide for our needs. If this is the case, the Bible instructs us to keep pressing on, for in due time God will supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory. The night is darkest just before dawn and behind every cloud there is a silver lining, and what might seem like a nightmare today, could be a dream come true tomorrow.
We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encourages us to keep on asking and trying, for in the fullness of time, God will answer our prayers if the prerequisites are all in place. Let's read:
Isaiah 41:17 When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. 18 I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.
May God add His blessing to the study and doing of His every word. God bless!