The statement "Ask, and it shall be given you" is one of the most powerful and direct promises Jesus gave to His followers. It is an open invitation to a life of prayerful dependence on a generous Father.
This command is found in the Gospel of Matthew, within the famous Sermon on the Mount:
"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened." - Matthew 7:7-8 (ESV)
Jesus reinforces this by comparing God's goodness to that of an earthly father:
"Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!" - Matthew 7:9-11 (ESV)
Understanding This Promise
This is not a blank check for anything we might selfishly desire. The context of the entire Bible shows that prayer is about relationship and alignment. We ask with:
1. Faith and Trust: We believe that God is both willing and able to give what is best (James 1:5-8).
2. Right Motives: We check our hearts, ensuring we are asking for God's glory and not just our own pleasure (James 4:3).
3. According to His Will: We submit our desires to His perfect wisdom and plan (1 John 5:14). The "good things" He gives are ultimately what we need for our spiritual growth and His kingdom purposes—which may include peace, wisdom, patience, or provision, rather than mere material things.
4. Persistence: The verbs "ask," "seek," and "knock" are in a continuous tense in Greek. It implies a lifestyle of persistent, trusting prayer, not a one-time demand.
A Poem: "The Asking"
Here is a poem that explores the depth and wonder of this incredible invitation.
"The Asking"
The King of Heaven, on the mount, Spoke words that break the doubt's dark count: "A simple word,a child's plea— Just ask,and it shall be.
"Not from a throne of distant stone, But from a heart that is your own. I am your Father,good and true, I long to give good gifts to you.
"So ask Me for your daily bread, For wisdom's light to be ahead. Ask for the peace that stills the storm, A heart and spirit transformed.
"Ask for the healing of the land, The strength to follow My command. Ask for the prodigal to see, Ask that My Spirit sets them free.
"And if you ask and do not see, Then seek with holy urgency. And if the path is still not clear, Then knock,and know that I am near.
"For what good father gives a stone To still the hunger of his own? If you,who are imperfect, care, How much more will I hear your prayer?
"So bring your need, your hope, your fear, Your whispered wish,your crystal tear. The door is real,the promise true— My child, all I require is you. Just ask."
A Simple Prayer to Respond:
Heavenly Father,
Your invitation is breathtaking. You tell me to ask, and so I come. I ask for what I need today—not just for things, but for You. I ask for Your presence, Your wisdom, and Your peace. I ask for a heart that trusts You so completely that my desires align with Yours. Thank you that You are not a reluctant giver but a generous Father. I lay my requests before You, trusting in Your perfect will and timing.
In the name of Jesus, my greatest gift, Amen.
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