Wednesday November 9, 2022

Today is Wednesday, November 9 and we are studying the words of Jesus in Matthew chapter seven.

As I begin this time of prayer, I focus myself upon the God who loves me. My heavenly Father calls me close to His side for a quiet and intimate conversation.

Pause and Pray

Lord Jesus Christ, speak to me about the Kingdom of Heaven and teach me how to live a life of love. I sit at Your feet listening to the words from the Sermon on the Mount longing for Your voice to permeate my soul. Amen.

I draw near to the Lord my God and praise His holy name with the words of Psalm 27.

One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. Psalm 27:4

Pause and Pray

In all things, disciples of Jesus are to remain dedicated to prayer and stay close to God. Of all my relationships, the most important one is my relationship with God. Everything else develops from the health and depth of my constant fellowship with my Father in heaven. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus encourages me to pray and promises God will hear and respond to my prayers. In every circumstance, I must never give up hope but continually ask, seek and knock.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8

Jesus promises God will not refuse my requests but delights in listening to my prayers. I am encouraged to pray seriously, continuously and persistently. I am to pray in faith, anticipating and expecting God to respond. God may answer my prayer in a less timely manner than I would like or in a way I did not expect. In all things I trust God loves me and knows what is best for me. Jesus says God wants to give good gifts to His children – and I am His beloved child. I can expect things in my life will turn out for the ultimate good. When I ask God, I will receive from Him. When I seek God, I will find Him. When I knock on the door of God, it will not remain closed, but will be opened.

Ask: What people or circumstances in my life do I need to pray about today? How can I ask, seek and knock regarding this particular situation?

Pause and Pray

Holy Lord Jesus, thank You for the encouragement to pray and Your promises that my prayers are heard. Today I kneel gratefully before You and ask for what I need most. I list the things I seek in my life and know that You will guide me to find them. If there are doors that have remained closed for me, I will knock with faithful persistence confident of an eventual opening. I read Matthew again, listening for the message You have for me today.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

Today God is speaking to me about the state of my prayer life. Perhaps God wants me to spend more time in prayer, persist in prayer, be more confident in prayer, or have more faith in prayer. This is a passage that is easily memorized and I can carry it throughout my day, reminding me to bring all my concerns and worries before God in prayer – expecting to receive. Today I endeavor to ask, seek and knock for myself and others.

Pause and Pray

Holy and Loving God, You know my needs before I ask and understand the desires of my heart. Yet you invite me to ask, seek and knock. Come and reveal the deepest longings of my soul and the places where I am most lacking. I have faith and believe that You will provide what I am lacking and supply my greatest needs. Amen.

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24

I leave this time of prayer loved and blessed by a holy God. I am sent into a broken world to intercede in prayer for the needs of others.

Amen