Ask and it will be given to you...

It sounds like such a straightforward concept, doesn’t it? Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. In The Chosen, Salome thinks she knows how that works. And today, some of us might think so too…

Lord, give me status.
Lord, provide money.
Lord, give me this job—or that one.
Lord…

We often have a whole list of requests.

And maybe that’s fair enough. Honest desires, real needs. But what about God? Does He always give us exactly what we ask for? Is it really that simple?

Two of Jesus’ other teachings can help us understand this one.

1. Seek first the Kingdom of God.

First. That means everything else has to take second place.

Jesus – the King – first.
His kingdom first.
His plans first.

And when we run our desires through that “filter,” our prayers begin to sound different, don’t they?

Instead of “Lord, give us status”, it’s “Lord, let Your goodness be seen.”

Instead of “Lord, give us money”, it’s “Lord, You know what I need, but help me also notice the needs of those around me.”

A shift in focus. A different orientation.

Let “Seek first the Kingdom of God” shape your prayer life.

2. Remain in Me.

In John 15:7, we find this beautiful, conditional promise: “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

It’s a blank check, with one condition: Remain in Jesus and in His Word.

Then, ask whatever you wish.

When His Word and your heart are in line, then prayer isn’t about your will anymore. It’s about God’s glory.

So here are two practical directions: Seek first the kingdom of God and remain in Jesus.

Reflection Questions

• Do you seek first the kingdom of God? How do you do that?
• How do you remain in Jesus?
• What would you like to ask Jesus for today?

Prayer

Lord, thank You for the invitation to pray boldly. Help me see where my desires and preferences shape my prayers. And help me pray in line with Your desires, plans, and purposes. Teach me to work with You in Your Kingdom. May You be seen, Lord, and may my life reflect you. Amen.