Ask-Seek-Knock (see description)

Matthew 7 was one of my favorite verses as a child. Matthew 7:7–8 is a passage from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount that emphasizes persistence in prayer and God's willingness to respond to those who seek Him. The text varies slightly by translation, but the core message remains consistent: Matthew 7:7: "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." Matthew 7:8: "For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. The passage uses three progressive metaphors to describe how believers should engage with God: Ask: Represents making specific requests and acknowledging a personal need for God’s provision. Seek: Implies a deeper, more active pursuit of God's will, truth, and His kingdom. Knock: Signifies persistent effort and the desire for access to God's presence and wisdom, even when doors appear closed. Many modern translations (like the NLT or Amplified) translate these verbs as "Keep on asking," "Keep on seeking," and "Keep on knocking" to reflect the continuous present tense of the original Greek, which stresses the need for unwavering perseverance. The subsequent verses (Matthew 7:9–11) clarify this promise by comparing God to a loving human father who gives good gifts to his children, rather than harmful things like stones or snakes. The promise is generally understood by scholars to be rooted in a relationship with God. It suggests that while God hears all who ask, He responds according to His perfect wisdom and will rather than fulfilling every superficial desire.