Week 8 — Thursday: Ask, And Keep Asking

Matthew 7:7-11

There is no power like that of prevailing prayer, of Abraham pleading for Sodom, Jacob wrestling in the stillness of the night, Moses standing in the breach, Hannah intoxicated with sorrow, David heartbroken with remorse and grief, Jesus in sweatof blood. Add to this list from the records of the churchyour personal observation and experience, and alwaysthere is the cost of passion unto blood. Such prayer prevails.It turns ordinary mortals into men of power. It brings power.It brings fire. It brings rain. It brings life. It brings God. 
—Samuel Chadwick 

Any who have a prodigal child understands Jesus’ instruction to His disciples to “ask and keep on asking; seek and keep on seeking; knock and keep on knocking.” “The Lord is not slow about His promises as some count slowness” (2 Peter 3:9). There is purpose in the Lord’s timing. 

It is not easy being in the Lord’s waiting room, but while we are there, the Lord is working in our hearts as He is in the hearts of our loved ones. While we wait, the Lord is humbling us, refining us, and developing in us the heart of the waiting Father who is filled with grace and forgiveness (Luke 15:11-31). While we are waiting, the Lord is also slowly working to bring our prodigal to the place where their eyes are opened to the vanity and futility of the world, the emptiness of the world’s offerings, and brokenness to the place where the prodigal comes to their senses and run back to the Lord (Luke 15:17-19). 

In our waiting, our faith and trust in the Lord is refined. We find confidence in His promises that He hears us, loves us, and is accomplishing His kingdom purposes. Our prayers are not in vain, and in His timing, He will answer (Revelation 5:8). 

—CONTRIBUTED BY LONNIE SKILES, PASTOR OF NEXT STEPS —

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