“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for.

 Keep on seeking, and you will find.

Keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you.

For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds.

And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”

Matthew 7:7-9 NLT

Consider this: what is my posture when I enter prayer? Is it one of ritual, devotion, formality, submission? Similarly, how do I view God?

Like a friend 

Like my Daddy 

In Fear 

Distant 

Formal 

Like He doesn’t care 

The way we approach prayer reveals how we view God. Do I come with the mess, or do I clean myself up before I talk to God?

When prayer becomes ritualistic, we lose the giddiness and joy of a child coming before their Father. But what if every time we enter the secret place, we enter with a posture of expectancy. Not for our own expectations to be met, but in humble anticipation that something miraculous is about to occur. 

When we come expectant, we are fully aware that we are participating in heaven coming down to earth. We aren’t just muttering for mere words sake, but we are asking, seeking, knocking for God to move.

When we come expectant- we are releasing our own strength. We are believing that God can and will move in accordance with His will.

Dear friend, have you become weary in prayer? Come expectant. Do you find yourself without the words to speak? Let your heart’s cry speak for you. 

Open your hands to receive, releasing your own personal expectations and anticipate God’s movement. Often, we get discouraged in prayer because we aren’t hearing what we want to hear- or are met with silence. Release this discouragement and begin anew. Let this truth overflow in your spirit.

 

“You parents- if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not!

So, if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children,

how much more will your Heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him?”

Matthew 7:9-11 NLT

He knows what we need, and He is a good, good Father who will give to us generously. But He doesn’t settle for almost good and not quite best. He always gives us His best- out of the abundance and overflow of who He is- His unchanging character.

Let’s enter prayer with a giddy what if. And come expectant!

- Kierstin Almstrum, ARISE Director of Online Operations and Project Management