What Jesus Did! 'Keep Praying!' — Matthew 7:7-8

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

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[Jesus continued:] "Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened."
— Matthew 7:7-8 NLT

Key Thought

Ask, seek, knock. These actions sound so harmless and so easy. But behind these words is the intent of Jesus: Be persistent! Keep asking! Continue seeking! Don't quit knocking! This is not a cookbook recipe, but the target attitude we should have in our prayers and our lives. We must be persistent and faithful. But rather than making that persistence our key to acquiring and achieving for ourselves, let's remember Jesus' example in the model prayer in Matthew 6:9-13: The focus is on God's will — his Kingdom and his glory, and our most basic needs — daily bread, and on overcoming sin through forgiveness and deliverance. Jesus was reminding us that if we pursued these things, we will receive them. In addition, we will also be changed for good in the process!

Today's Prayer

Holy and righteous Father, thank you so much for the many prayers you have answered. Thank you, dear Father, for answering my prayers to be more like Jesus. I confess I am still so very far from his perfection, but when I look at the distance you have brought me in the past, I can view the future only with excitement knowing that you will lead me on to become more like him in the future. In Jesus' name, I thank you and ask for your continued grace. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • James 1:5-8
  • John 14:12-13
  • Luke 18:1-8

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Illustration

Illustration of Matthew 7:7-8 NLT — Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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