January 31, 2021 · Matthew 7:7–8

Will Not Give You a Stone

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.

“It's very frustrating sometimes, but if I'm really honest, I look back and it's kind of funny, because I realize this is probably a living parable of myself and how I relate to God. I'm a lot like that dog. I think I know what I want, and I want to go catch the stick and run and have fun and get my energy out. … And so this is part of what I'm realizing: that I need to be better at remembering to trust him. That I depend on him. That I actually need him. And that he wants what's best for me, and he'll make sure, ultimately, that he will bring me through whatever I need to in life, and I'll come out on the other end of it with an eternity full of joy. That's the truth of who God is. I can trust him, and I should trust him, and I should follow his leading and enjoy what he's brought to me. This is the reality of prayer. When we're talking about being prepared for prayer, part of it is coming in with a proper attitude and a proper humility, yes. And we need to recognize that we need to spend the time to sit on our beds and in silence meditate and allow him to help us process things. But another thing we need to do is approach him with the confidence of a son or a daughter, with the expectation of goodness in who I am speaking to. And we see this.”