Encouragement for Your Week: October 12-18
This Week’s Verse
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 NIV
Devotion
It's just human nature to want to quit when things get tough. That part of us, the part that's easily discouraged, has a motto that goes something like: "If at first you don't succeed, why even bother trying again?"
But this week’s teaching from Jesus tells us to do the exact opposite, especially when we're talking about our relationship with God. When you need something—whether it's guidance, strength, or comfort—you should be persistent. You should keep at it.
Think about the story Jesus told right before this lesson (it's in Luke 11:5-8). It's about a friend who wakes up his neighbor in the middle of the night, shamelessly asking for bread because he has a guest. The friend keeps asking until the neighbor finally gets up and gives him what he needs, not because they're close friends, but because the first friend won't give up.
That's the kind of attitude Jesus wants us to have. He says simply, "Ask, and it will be given to you."
You might think, "Well, that's obvious for someone who follows Jesus." But how often do we get so wrapped up in our problems that we forget to turn to God and ask for help? We try to muddle through it on our own, using only our own strength and resources. Jesus doesn't just suggest you pray in these moments—He commands it.
But asking is only the start. Jesus wants us to turn up the intensity.
Ask: State what you need clearly.
Seek: This means actively looking. It's too easy to throw up a quick, five-second prayer and then get totally lost in your situation again. Jesus says you need to be more dedicated. Keep seeking what you need from God until you find it. This requires effort and focus.
Knock: Finally, when your consistent asking and seeking have brought you right to the "doorstep of heaven," don't just stand there waiting. Knock on the door! If you knock, the door will be opened to you.
When you show God you are truly serious and sincere by asking, seeking, and knocking, He will open that door and provide what you need from His infinite supply.
Jesus wants our lives to be productive and to 'bear fruit'—meaning our actions should be good and our lives should make a positive difference (John 15:16). Our prayers—our persistent asking, seeking, and knocking—are a key tool to help us live that fruitful life. It shows God we are committed to growing and serious about following His plan.
This Week’s Challenge
This week, practice Jesus's commands of Asking, Seeking, and Knocking. Grab a sheet of paper for the week. Each day, write three things: 1) Ask God by writing a specific prayer request in the morning, 2) Seek by identifying and writing down one intentional action you took that day to move toward the goal, and 3) Knock by reflecting and noting one small way you saw the situation change or God respond. This process is designed to encourage you to move past simply thinking about a problem toward actively and persistently engaging your faith and your actions.