How we ask the Lord

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

⁹ Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? ¹¹ If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! ¹² So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Matthew 7:7-12

Back in high school, my philosophy teacher, Mr. Volk, would often humorously suggest a form of “kind” revenge for dealing with a neighbor who caused too much disturbance in the neighborhood, whether through loud house parties or by driving an annoying sports car with an obnoxious exhaust note. He recommended buying the neighbor’s child a drum set, explaining that while the child would adore it, the parents would soon realize the chaos they were in for as their kid began energetically playing it. We found this idea hysterically funny, admiring its ingenious yet mischievous nature.

In the Christian faith, what do we define as “good gifts”? When praying, do we ask God for His good gifts? Often, and many times, we pray for things we perceive as “good” – but these may only seem good from our perspective. There are also instances where we settle for mediocrity, with prayers like: “God, please let me pass this test,” or “Lord, please let me achieve success.” The problem with these prayers is not that they are generic, but that they reflect a lack of trust and confidence in the Lord.

As we begin to surrender and submit to God in prayer, we must start to believe that God gives good and perfect gifts, intended to shape our circumstances in such a way that we may glorify Him.

¹⁷ Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. – James 1:17

Here’s the thing: God only bestows upon us gifts that He deems good for us. He often understands our needs better than we understand them ourselves. Thus, when we ask God, when we knock on the door, we must be prepared to walk through it—to enter His house, to be in His presence, where He reigns as the master. Our greatest blessing lies in being part of that grand plan.

“God speaks to people who decide they’re going to do what he tells them to do, even before he tells them. It’s saying, “God, if you want me to move, I’ll move. If you want me to get married, I’ll get married. If you want me to leave this job, I’ll leave this job. Before you even tell me, my answer is ‘yes.’ Whatever you want me to do, I will do it.”

– Rick Warren, Saddleback Church

Put your faith in the Lord when you pray, and believe that He has a great plan set out for you. Entrust your requests to Him, and know that His gifts are always good and perfect.