Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Matthew 7:7-8

ASK

We must ask. And we must ask according to God’s will. Jesus taught in the model prayer in chapter 6 that we should pray that God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We are asking that our will be the same as the Father’s will. When it is, we will be asking for the right things.

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Matthew 21:22

When we are asking according to our own desires, we do not receive what we ask.

Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

James 4:3

Remember, God knows our needs before we ask. Therefore, we should ask according to our needs to help us in the kingdom of God.

SEEK

Our requests need to be more than just casual prayers. We need to earnestly beg God for what we need. And sometimes, pray multiple times for the same thing.

Consider the parable of the “Unjust Judge.”

And he spake a parable unto them [to this end], that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

Luke 18:1-7

The judge cares for no one but himself. Yet he will answer if pressed repeatedly. How much more will God answer His own elect that He loves with an everlasting love? We need to cry out day and night to Him!

KNOCK

When we feel like we understand the will of God, it is time to move forward in His service. We should pray once again telling God exactly what we plan to do. In this prayer, we should ask God to open the way for us to move forward. If we are acting according to His will, the doors of opportunity will open for us.