July 10 Devotion: Are We Persistent?

Are We Persistent?

Matthew 7:7-11

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: [8] For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. [9] Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? [10] Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? [11] If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Please!! Pretty please!! How many of you ever remember, or maybe still hear those words from your child in the grocery store or maybe in a toy store? They seem to always have something extra they want. Oftentimes, we then give in and give it to them. Their persistence would typically pay off.

Before I go any further, under no circumstances am I suggesting we act that way towards God. However, I do wonder how often we stop praying because our desired answer hasn’t come yet. We’ve heard it said God will answer in 3 ways: yes, no, or not yet. How quickly we lose patience in the “not yet”. How many prayers have we offered up for a lost family member or friend, only to stop at some point for some reason? Sure we believe God can save them, but we don’t see them making an attempt to come to church possibly so we just let it take a backseat to something else. It’s possible you’re praying for an answer that you feel is needed right away. A situation that you need a resolution to immediately. Maybe God not opening a door or closing one immediately is just His way of showing you it’s not as important as you think.

Read verse 11 again if our text. If we know how to give gifts and answer our kids’ requests do you really think God won’t answer us? Sometimes it might require more patience on our part. Sometimes it might take a persistent prayer to see God send an answer.

You might have been praying for something now for months or even years. Now isn’t the time to give up!! Just keep seeking His will and wait for Him to give the answer!

God bless,

Bro. Josh Richardson