Verbs of Prayer

“Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you.” Matt. 7:7 (CEB)

Science class has taught us there are certain actions when performed prompt a reaction. In the chosen scripture verse, there are three such actions, ask, search and knock. Each one bringing with it, the appropriate reaction – cause and effect we call it.

Ask, search and knock are all verbs – words that indicate action. Merriam-Webster describes such words like this: Verbs are words that show an action (sing), occurrence (develop), or state of being (exist). Almost every sentence requires a verb.

I would like to take a closer look at these three words from today’s verse from Webster’s 1828 dictionary.

· Ask - To request; to seek to obtain by words; to petition; with of before the person to whom the request is made.

· Search - Quest; pursuit for finding.

· Knock - To strike; to drive against

Matthew, chapter 7 and verse 8 goes on to say this: “For everyone who asks, receives. Whoever seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door is opened.” (CEB) You see, our actions produce reactions! And what a promise this is! To receive the desired reaction, a specific action is required on our part.

We petition; we set ourselves on a quest to find that which we are in search of. Lastly, envisioning a way (door) previously closed to us, we knock – striking it repeatedly. God’s promise is that He will answer, present Himself to us and make a way where there was not a way before.

An easy way to keep this in our minds is to sing this little chorus from the children’s song, Ask, Seek, Knock by Hillsong Kids:

When you ask He cares When you seek He’s there When you knock knock knock knock knock God opens up the door