Ask

 
                                                And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you;
                                                seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened
                                                unto you.
                                                                                                                 (Luke 11:9)

Our first reading of the verse seems to be the ultimate key to answered prayer: expressed in a “cause and effect” style which harmonizes with our technical input-output world. The simple acceptance of this spiritual truth might have rewarded with answers from God at first, but this did not continue for long. A short while after we joyfully discovered this verse, we painfully discarded it, but with such promises as “answers from God” and the “authority of scripture” at risk, we dare not speak publically of our disappointment, or accuse God directly of lying. We cast the verse aside like a puzzle piece we have not found a place for, but are confident we will.

We had taken it to mean that “if we just took the time to pray, God would reward us with an answer”, so by asking, our part is done; but our experience over time does nothing to prove this verse true and has not given us the answers we were seeking. We ask ourselves, “Why when it simply says, “ask, it will be given you”, does it not give me unlimited access to answered prayer?” The answer, though it adds a condition, holds much greater riches and practical blessings than we first imagined.  

The Greek word for “ask” is more descriptive than its English counterpart, so when “ask” is translated, a subtle meaning is stripped away which leaves us with only “the action of making a request”. Vines Expository Dictionary has eight words which are translated “ask” in the KJV, and this is only one of them. The word means “to ask from one lesser, to one greater”; much more meaning than we had originally given it. Viewing this as only cause and effect was simplistic view, but now we find a new condition placed on us and the scripture demanding of the pray-er more than just the act of praying, but an attitude of heart.

Our altered view does not mean we have been cheated; on the contrary the new condition makes it is significantly richer. Now the times when we feel the smallest in our own estimation, feel the neediest and without the faintest hint of drawing toward prayer becomes the very circumstance to which the verse is speaking. Recognizing our position as needy, humbles us, and becomes the very attitude of heart to which He promised us an answer for our asking. Now our most down trodden moments, at the very height of our need, in our most pitiful circumstances, now become the Promised-Land and mother-load of answered prayer, and all for the same action of “asking” we had before. Truly He resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (PS 138:6).

The door of prayer is not opened to those that simply “do the activity” of making a request  and demand they be rewarded with answer; but is thrown wide open to those who give glory to God as God, but see themselves as needy. They come before Him with boldness, though feeling their neediness and the needs of others which they cannot meet, buy they obtain mercy and find grace to help them. To these the door of prayer is open.