“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8)

It goes without saying that God won’t give us something that’s not good for us. He wouldn’t do that any more than a parent would give a five-year-old a loaded gun to carry around or prescription medicine from the medicine cabinet.

Jack Hayford taught something on prayer years ago that I still remember. He said that we’re not to screen our prayers. I’m prone to do that. “God can handle this one, but that one may be too difficult for him.” Then Hayford posed a rhetorical question. What if we ask for something that isn’t good for us? Hayford answered the question this way. “Relax, you won’t get it.”

What about the prayers God will answer, though? These verses could literally be translated as, “Keep on asking…. keep on seeking…. keep on knocking…. For everyone who keeps on asking…. the one who keeps on seeking… and to the one who keeps on knocking….” Jesus was encouraging us to never give up on prayer.

We live in a world of instant everything, from coffee to pudding to TV dinners. It is tempting to give up on prayer when we don’t get instant answers. However, prayer doesn’t work like a microwave oven. It is a product of a lifelong relationship with our heavenly Father. He never tires of hearing from us. Rather, He invites us to come boldly to His throne when we need help and grace. Jesus reminded us to never give up on prayer because the one who keeps on seeking finds.