Thoughts for the Day

Ask, Search, Knock

'Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

The Golden Rule

‘In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Yesterday we looked at repenting our sin and asking God to remove its stain. It's something we all do when we acknowledge, as the Book of Common Prayer says: "We have erred and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep", and "followed the devices and desires of our own hearts". But having truly asked God's forgiveness and received His pardon, we should move on to involving God in our day to day life in a positive way through our prayers of intercession.

Jesus taught his disciples to ask for God's help and they would receive it. To search and they would find the help they needed. To knock and a door would be opened to them. The trouble is that all too often we complain:

• "Why doesn't God answer my prayer?"
• "Why can't I find God?"
• "Why doesn't anything happen when I call God?"

If this rings a bell with you, can you look at what might have gone wrong. Ask yourself this:

• Did I ask for the right solution, or was I being selfish?
• Did I try to fit my plans to what God was already doing?
• Has God acted, but I don't like his answer?

Sometimes we must also accept that God's answer can be "No, my beloved child!" At other times His plans for us are far bigger than we can ever imagine. So we need to move forward in the belief that God does answer, He can be found, and He does open the door when we knock!

Lord Jesus,
Help us to trust in Your words
and Your promise
that if we ask, search and knock,
we will find our Heavenly Father,
and that he will answer us -
as a loving parent cares for a child.
Amen.