Thursday, August 25, 2022
Alysa Waits - Journey Church Member
Matthew 7:7-12
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.”
Devotional
In these verses, Jesus reveals more about the character of God the Father and his response to his children. “Ask, seek, knock.” The good Lord does not turn his face from those who search for him. He desires a relationship with everyone, but he will also not hold anyone captive. God is love, he is good, and he is also just. In the end, He will ultimately give us over to what our hearts desire most. God will not force those who do not choose to be in a relationship with him. However, for those who do choose to follow Christ, he does not keep himself from them.
In denying our flesh (sin) and setting our eyes towards what’s above, we point our desires towards God. Jesus reveals the goodness and faithfulness of the Father when he says “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” (verse 11). The Lord is faithful to provide for his children. He is faithful to provide what is asked when our motives align with his heart. However, we must first ask. Why? Since God has given us free will, he will not go where he is not welcome.
So how do we live because of this?
In recognizing the goodness and mercy of God, it enables us to walk in freedom. Anything we do cannot separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:38-39), and he does not keep himself from us. God is our Father, and he wants to care for his children. He wants to help his children. It takes humility to ask for help, to say “I can’t do this on my own”. However, it’s in this place of humility that the Lord wants to step in, be our strength, and be our provider. So whatever you are doing, invite the Lord into it. Ask for his strength when you are tired, seek out his beauty when you feel numb, and trust that the Lord will answer when you cry out.
Prayer
Pray that God would show up in new ways this week. Ask him to be your strength, comfort, peace, or whatever you need from him at this moment. Intentionally look for ways God is working in your heart and life today…and the week to come.
Daily Prayer Initiatives
- Jesus to change more lives as we double the square footage of our Castle Pines location.
- Momentum as we launch our Highlands Ranch location.
- Someone you can invite to Journey on Friend Day (Sunday, September 11)
- One bold prayer you sense God is personally inviting you to pray during the 21 Days.
Highlight
Get to a place where you can focus and read the daily Scripture passage several times. From the passage of Scripture you read, highlight one or two verses that stick out. Write them down, and even consider rewriting the verse(s) in your own words.
Explain
Make some basic observations about the scripture you just read by asking these questions:
- Why was this written?
- To whom was it originally written?
- What is the author trying to communicate?
- What does the Scripture passage teach me about God and humanity?
Apply
After taking some time explaining the highlighted scriptures, begin to think about how they apply to your life. Ask yourself these questions and spend some time writing down your thoughts:
- What do these verses mean today?
- What does this verse(s) mean for my life?
- How does this verse challenge my thinking and actions?
- What changes do I need to make in my life as a result of this passage of Scripture?
Respond
Your response to the passage may take on many forms. You may write a call to action. You may describe how you will be different because of what God has said to you through the Bible verses. You may indicate what you are going to do because of what you learned. You may respond by writing out a prayer to God. For example, you may ask God to help you to be more loving, or to give you a desire to be more generous in your giving. Keep in mind that this is your response to what you have just read.