Knock And See What Will Be Opened To You

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)

This verse graced my heart soon after waking up one morning. I had met a lovely woman who had been wrestling with difficult questions about God. It felt like His loving response to her search for Him. But as with all verses that spring to my heart, it was an opportunity to engage more deeply with my heavenly Father. As I meditated on it, I took note of its resonance with another powerful scripture: Jeremiah 29:13, “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the LORD.” Though the contexts differ, they echo the same beautifully profound promise.

God is far from the controlling, authoritarian figure some might imagine. He is quite the opposite when we encounter Him in scripture. He is a God who loves His beloved church that He laid down His life for her. Even His warnings are an act of love, meant for our protection, yet, He never infringes on our freedom to choose. He has given us the gift of free will to choose Him in return. That's because love-true love-is always a choice. Therefore, His call is always an invitation. When God calls us, He is inviting us into a relationship that requires our active participation and willingness to respond.

Beloved, if you want to have a relationship with God there is a condition. It's simply this: Relinquish your need to live apart from Him and start living for Him.

This may not feel simple to you. You may have heard the call but perhaps you're holding back from surrendering to Him because you're afraid to release control. For many, surrendering is a struggle because it's easier to cling to what's familiar-their independence, accomplishments, and sense of self-sufficiency. So taking the step forward in faith feels like losing something dear.

But the truth is none of us ever have full control. The accomplishments, that independence, that strength you take pride in was all a result of God's grace over your life. You may not have been aware of His presence, but He has always known you. He knew you before you were born. It was He who shielded you, provided for you, and gave you the strength and abilities you think is your own doing. It was the Lord who created you in His image, who placed greatness within you, greatness you’ve cultivated through your development and training.

If God has sustained you with His grace even before you knew Him, how much more will the work of His grace accomplish when you commit your life to Him? In Christ, you don’t lose who you are, you discover who you were always meant to be. And you begin to use your abilities-your talents, strengths, gifts, and resources-for His glory, not your own. Because when you realize that everything that you have and are is made possible because of Him, your praise and worship is rightfully directed to Him.

Still, in surrender, there is loss. What's lost is the false belief that you are the sole architect of your life. You lose the unhealthy sense of control and the burdens that come with it. You lose the striving that leads to exhaustion and the pursuits that leave you empty. You lose the weight of self-glorification, the sin that clings to your soul, and the false sense of independence that separates you from the very Source of life. The loss that comes with a truly surrendered heart is what makes the promise of Matthew 7:7 and Jeremiah 29:13 so profound, it is the very thing that makes room for our restoration.

What we lose in our surrender only makes way for what we gain. And what we gain is infinitely greater as Apostle Paul so passionately proclaims,

“Everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8).

When you lose the version of yourself that relied solely on your own strength and understanding, you're able to embrace the truest version of yourself, the one that reflects God's purposes for your life. You break free from the cycle of striving without purpose and step into a life of dependence on your loving Father who wants to guide you through life's journey to keep you on the secure path of salvation.

The greatest gift we have is Jesus. He not only delivers us from condemnation and seals us for eternal glory, but journeys with us through every season of disappointment, loss, grief, as well as the victorious milestones, and wins. He is there for every moment when we allow Him in.

Making a faith decision feels like a gamble because we love what we've known or perceive the alternative as lesser in value. But if only you knew what was on the other side of your surrender.

Beloved, Jesus' invitation is simple: seek Him with all your heart, surrender to His call, and trust that what you gain in Him far exceeds what you ever thought you might lose.

If you're willing to make today the day you say 'Yes' to His invitation then choose this moment: knock on the door of heaven by going to Jesus in prayer with an earnest desire to receive Him as your Saviour and Lord. He delights to answer those who ask with a sincere heart.

Ask and you will receive. Seek and you will find Him. Knock and the door will be opened.

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Prayer of Surrender

Dear God, I confess that I've lived my life on my terms, denying your Lordship and living in sinful rebellion. I'm in need of your forgiveness and repent of all my sins. I want to know you God as you have known me. Thank you for sending Jesus to die for my sins and making it possible for me to have a relationship with you. I ask that you fill me with your Spirit and help me to let go of my need to be in control and to trust you to be Lord over my life. I know that you love me and your plans for me are good, I willingly give you my life today Jesus and choose to live in honour of you. Teach me to follow your lead and guidance all the days of my life. In your Mighty Name I pray, Amen!

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. -Jeremiah 29:12