Disciples Learn to Ask, Seek, and Knock, receiving good gifts from their Father in Heaven
Matthew 7:7-8
Ask, and it will be given to you;
seek, and you will find;
knock, and it will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
~ Jesus,
Since this week's Sermon on the Mount theme is prayer, we dive into insights on prayer in our devotional time. Prayer is way too multi-faceted to capture in a few words, but any definition would involve communication with God. Even more profound might be communion with God. The communication within prayer may be verbal or non-verbal; it occurs at intellectual level, emotional and spiritual levels; it could be on conscious or even unconscious levels, alone or collective; there are prayers of the heart, prayers of the mind, and prayers of the spirit; there are prayers of understandable words, with un-understandable words (yes I meant that!) and prayers with no words at all – even prayers with no end at all. And we haven't even got to prayers that the Holy Spirit groans out for us. While this week’s insights won’t be exhaustive, let’s hope that they are informative.
Prayer For the Week
Father, the depths of our potential relationship with You cannot be plumbed, but I ask that in Jesus, we would continue going deeper and deeper. I seek Your insight to stay on this path of spiritual life and growth. I desire to keep knocking day in and day out in pursuit of You, My Lord and God. Bless me and all who seek You similarly in Jesus’ name. Amen.
What Does Jesus Mean by Ask, Seek, and Knock?
In His fourth sermon teaching on relationships and conflict , Jesus encourages His listeners to
ask God for what they need. Because the three previous teachings don't directly tell us how to respond in specific situations, Jesus emphasizes that the challenges of relationships require wisdom that comes from a deep dependence
on God.
https://bibleproject.com/what-does-jesus-mean-ask-seek-and-knock/
Psalm 119: Immersed in the Word of God
Micro-Meditation
Psalm 119:25-32 4th letter: Daleth (ד)
- I am laid low in the dust;
preserve my life according to your word. - I gave an account of my ways and you answered me;
teach me your decrees. - Cause me to understand the way of your precepts,
that I may meditate on your wonderful deeds. - My soul is weary with sorrow;
strengthen me according to your word. - Keep me from deceitful ways;
be gracious to me and teach me your law. - I have chosen the way of faithfulness;
I have set my heart on your laws. - I hold fast to your statutes, Lord;
do not let me be put to shame. - I run in the path of your commands,
for you have broadened my understanding.
Read the versus of the Psalm.
Mark the words or phrases that catch your attention.
Meditate: talk (or better, write) with God about those words. Ask him to impress things upon your heart and mind; expect responses.
Pondering Point
The traditional sense of the letter Daleth is lowliness or humility, which kicks off this section of Psalm 119.
Note the letter reflects bending low in submissiveness.