The Upward Look
© Copyright 2011, Max D. Hutto,

“And I say to you, ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it shall be opened.”
   Luke 11:9-10 NASB ©

The word translated “ask” means to ask and keep on asking. “Seek” means to seek and keep on seeking, and “knock” means to knock and keep on knocking. Jesus was teaching the principle of persistence in prayer with a progressively more intense pleading, from asking, to seeking, to knocking. This pleading is not a flippant quick request, but instead the person is consistently and earnestly seeking God’s assistance. The person is in a position of need and helplessness and thus utterly dependent upon God.

Lord Jesus, only through Your provision can I survive this day. Teach me daily to spend time with You in prayer and to have an attitude of prayer all through the day.

* (footnotes & credits)

NASB ©
The Bible quotes marked NASB are from the New American Standard Bible,
© Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977,
by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA. (used with permission)

HCSB ©
The Bible quotes marked HCSB are from the Holman Christian Standard Bible,
© Copyright 2000 by Holman Bible Publishers (used with permission).

NIV ©
The Bible quotes marked NIV are from the New International Version,
© Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, by The International Bible Society. (used with permission)