1 September | EVERYONE
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." Matthew 7: 7,8
Never be discouraged even if many times adverse circumstances surround you and you feel that God does not listen to your prayer. Do not stop waiting on Christ. Keep seeking and getting to know Jesus. He, in whom there is no change or shadow of variation, told you so Himself. “When you ask for the blessings you need, that you may perfect a character after Christ's likeness, the Lord assures you that you are asking according to a promise that will be verified” (Ellen G. White, Thoughts from the Mount of Blessings, p. 130). Human beings, no matter how sincere they are, can fail, but God always keeps His promises.
However, in order to ask ,you need to be aware of the need. No one asks if they are satisfied. People try to fill the emptiness of the heart with the fleeting pleasures of this life, but the soul is still hungry and thirsty for justice because it came out of the hands of God and will only be happy when it returns to their Creator.
To ask for and to look for something, it is urgent to recognize that you do not have it, or you lack it. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve felt that they lacked clothes and hid among the trees instead of seeking the Father for help. Today's humanism teaches you the same thing. It induces you to ask for or seek help anywhere but from God. It deceives you; it disguises the anguish of the soul. It gives explanations to the emptiness within, but it does not ease the pain of your soul.
To knock on a door, you need to accept that you are on the outside. Are there times in your life when you feel strange, lonely, and without any rights? At this moment, the door is in front of you. Jesus is the door. It is not hard for you to knock. God cannot force you to do it. It is you and you alone who need to decide. That is why He calls you and insists, over and over again. It disturbs you sometimes in your hours of loneliness and sadness. He invites you with open arms and full of love. But He awaits your decision. You are free. No one can make the decision for you.
Take Action
When you pray for something, remember that God is not deaf or forgetful. He also does not gloat over making you wait. You do not have to ask anxiously and insistently. Trust that He has already listened to you and will give you what you need in due time. Sing "It Will Be Opened" (if possible, with your family).