Rattling Knobs

    

Luke 11:9-11

 

"So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened."  

NKJV

 

My closest friends and family will tell you that my number one pet peeve in all of the world, is presumptuousness.  I detest it when people presume or demand something from me that I am not trying to give.  I am a generous person, but please, do not tell me to hand you something!  Ask me, and it's yours.  I just do not like it when people take it for granted that I was  born to do their bidding. (Come on, you have your hang-ups, too!)

 

Because of my repulsion to presumptuous and pretentious people, I go way into the other ditch.  I know that I am always welcome at my mother's but still I call and ask if I can come.  I  have friends that I know will listen when I need to talk, but still I ask if they have time and if it's  convenient.  Being considerate is super important to me.

 

That is why I feel that I sometimes fall a bit short in carrying out today's verse.  I ask.  But I do not always get pushy with it.  I pray, and I leave it to God. But lately, I have been feeling a desperation in my spirit to ask and keep on asking; to knock and keep on knocking.  Not being heard or not being answered is no longer a consideration!  I need God to show up.  It is reached a point that I am going beyond knocking to jiggling the door knob.  Frankly, I am starting to rattle them pretty good.

 

I am convinced that sometimes God hides, that we might seek him all the more.  He ordains situations and circumstances that cause us to become bold and daring in prayer.  If you are not finding what you are looking for, seek harder!  Bang on the door!  Cry out with a loud voice.  Ask Him!  He knows you need it and He has the resources.  How will you know where your open door is, if you are not rattling the knob?

 

 

 

Dear Lord, I just can't let this go.  I need you to give me a breakthrough.  I need to see you swinging open doors and answering prayers.  I put my confidence in you and rejoice already in your provision and action on my behalf.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

Are You in the Game?

 

    

Ps 53:2

 

2 God looks down from heaven upon the children of men,

To see if there are any who understand, who seek God. " (NKJV)

 

Will you confess it?   Have you ever pretended to play with your kids?  I have.  Sometimes I will forget our little guy is hiding from me, and I will continue with the laundry or washing dishes. Before long, his dejected little voice will ring out, "Mama are you looking for me?"  That will make you feel like a dog in a hurry!

It makes me feel so horrible to think of God sitting up in heaven, looking  around, desiring to have one of His children seeking him.  Finding no one- just people involved in selfish pursuits who have forgotten Him.  Forgive me Lord, for the times that I fail to seek you!  Forgive me for neglecting my prayer time; for not seeking your direction and guidance for my life.

How will we ever walk in understanding, if we do not seek the Source of all Knowledge?  How will we ever find His best for our life, if we are not actively pursuing it?

Dear Lord, please forgive me of unfaithfulness.  Please give me the grace to diligently seek your face.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

Sherri

Who’s Banging on the Door?

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”  Matthew 7:7

 

I had spent days mulling over a problem that needed a solution.  I thought of this option and I thought of that option. I carefully measured the result should I go in one direction or the other. I came up with no answers.  I was frustrated.  And then it hit me. I have worried over it for days, but not once did I pray about it!

Have you ever been guilty of that?  Wishing rather than asking, seeking and knocking?  I am pleased to report that after praying about it, my first attempt to correct the problem met with success.  It was fixed in under a minute- and I had spent hours trying to resolve it myself.

It is important that we ask everything in accordance with God’s will and His Word.  But once we know that we are OK in those areas, we should turn loose and ask and keep on asking.  Seek and keep on seeking.  Knock and keep on knocking.  Why?  Because the door will be opened to you.

God is not nearly as impressed with our efforts as we might think.  I think God is fine with a dependent personality type- so long as it is Him we are depending on.

Dear Lord, thank you that you invite us to ask, seek, and knock.  Lord, help me be aware when I get out of faith and into the works of the flesh.  I ask these things in Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Sherri