“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”        — Matthew 7:7

Not too long ago I received an email from someone I had never met before. This “someone” was a youth pastor in Oklahoma who was having a silent auction to raise funds to send the youth at his church to summer camp and on summer mission trips. In his email, he asked if I would be willing to donate some books to his cause.

I remember my first response to the email was to think, “Why is he asking me? He doesn’t even know me! And how did he hear of me in the first place?”

But once I got over my initial shock of a stranger requesting something of me, I realized that I had no good reason to say no. I had some books sitting in my office at that very moment, and what was more, the cause for which he needed the books — youth — was near and dear to my heart. I wrote him back and told him that I would be happy to donate some books as well as some of my DVD films.

As I reflected upon this request and experience, I thought to myself, “To how many others would I be willing to give if only they asked?” Of course, the “if” is a big one. I can probably count on one or two hands how many times I have been asked to donate my books. And the funny thing is, I have been asked more by strangers than by the people I know who are involved with causes that I am already committed to.

Certainly there may be times when it might not be possible for me to give, but if possible, and if asked (and of course, if put on the spot!), I have discovered that my response will most likely be yes — and this despite the fact that I am merely human!

Thus, as I reflect upon the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:7, I can’t help but think, “How much do I miss out on because I do not ask the Father? How much would He be willing to give if I would ask?” Just as I have a stock of books waiting to be distributed, the Father has a stock of blessings to pour out upon those who ask. Now I’m not referring specifically to material blessings (although the Father can meet those needs too), but more so the blessings of the fruits of His Spirit, open doors to minister for Him, more of His presence and power in my life and the lives of my friends and family members, and His guidance and direction for my work and daily choices.

I have a cousin who I only see once a year or less, but every time I see him, he asks me the same question: “What are you praying for?”

So I’d like to leave you with the same question — What are you praying for? In your personal life? Your career? Your family? Your church? The world?

Of course, this question presupposes that we are praying. That we are asking, seeking and knocking. For this is the only way that we can receive, find and have the door opened. The Lord longs to answer those who ask, to give direction to those who seek and to open doors for those who knock; the only question is, will we be people that take Him at His word?