In an attempt to follow Mary's example of sitting and listening to her Lord Jesus, I opened Luke 11 this morning. Although verses 9 and 10 are familiar and even etched into my memory, the Holy Spirit brought a new thought to light. Read here Jesus' words:
"And I tell you, 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."
Do these three types of pleas (asking, seeking, knocking) represent prayer in general or could they be representing three variations of prayer? I began to wonder, "When do I ask, when do I seek, and when do I knock".
- I ask things of God when I know exactly what I need and have a specific request for Him.
- I seek things of God when I am in search of relief from a pain or the fulfillment of a longing, but am unaware of what to specifically pray for or where to look for its answers.
- I knock before God when I know where to turn for the answer, but do not have an understanding of what the answer should look like.
Ah, I began to think, this idea might just translate into my prayer life beautifully:
- Prayers for Brannin and the children are asking prayers because I have specific and clear requests for them.
- Prayers for the church, family, and friends are also asking prayers.
- Prayers for my (and Brannin's) future are seeking prayers because I have no specific requests and no clear discernment from where the answers wil come, or what form they will take, only unfulfilled longings.
- Prayers for the spiritual development/vitality of our family are knocking prayers because I know the source of the answer is God's Word, prayer, and communication, but don't know logistically how to implement these elements to fulfill my longings.
And then, Jesus summarized the entire paragraph by saying this,
"If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him."
(vs. 13)
Whether I ask, seek, or knock, the ultimate answer to my prayers is the gift of the Holy Spirit. I challenge you to come alongside me and enter into these three types of prayers, praying to the Father, because of the Son, and in response to the Holy Spirit. Hallelujah!
