In my role as a corporate training professional I engage with adult learners each and every day. One of the things that I stress to them is to be sure and ask any questions that are “burning a hole in your skull”. I want them to feel comfortable with asking for answers to ensure that they have taken charge of their learning and that they are not hampered by the anxiety of not knowing something. I read this morning in Matthew and found where it was I get that concept to stress.
“7Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” — Matthew 7:7-8 (ESV)
Jesus, in His Sermon on the Mount, taught many things to the people and to me even these many years later. This one, title in my ESV bible: “Ask, and It Will Be Given”, centers around inquiring for that which is in need. Now I have to be careful and know that just asking for something is not how it all works. I have to ask in Jesus’ name and that will be given (John 15:16). But, this passage gives encouragement to ask, seek, and knock for those things which one finds are worth inquiring about.
I have to remember what it is that I teach (asking for those things that are burning a hole in the skull) and living it out in my own life. There are things that I feel are worth inquiring about and who better to ask than the only one that can supply for all of my needs, GOD.
I have to get out of my own way and seek from God for the things that He knows I need and allow Him to provide. I know what I “want”, like most everyone else in the world, but I may not know exactly what I “need” nor will I exactly recognize it when I see it. God does though and I have to remember to seek His counsel and guidance to be made aware of my needs and how it is He is supplying for them. This will assist me in asking, seeking, and knocking more for the things I need, in His Name, and therefore, I will recognize when they have been given to me.
What are some of the things that you have asked for, sought for, or knocked for? Are you looking to find those things that are “needed” or those that you are “wanting”? What if you looked to God for guidance in the area of your needs to ensure that what you were indeed asking for in His Name fell in line with “needs”?
Trevor's Thoughts 