Part 9: Matthew 7:8

"For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened."

The promise of prayer

Several years ago I was blessed to have a spiritual prayer partner, Mamie Moore, an elderly woman who lived within walking distance of the church. She was a mild-mannered and humble lady who loved the Lord. I learned to trust and appreciate her deeply spiritual nature. During moments of indecision I would walk to her home to spend time in dialogue and prayer.

Our time together might last 10 minutes or two hours. Although we never dwelled on my particular struggles, she prayed as though she already knew my need. When she prayed something always happened. God either changed my expectations or the circumstances around me.

Mamie Moore did not hold any church office, but she was one of the greatest Christian servants I have ever known. She accepted God's sovereignty and believed the promises given in Jesus Christ.

Matthew 7:7-8 establishes the promise and importance of prayer. The text is a parenthetical statement, placed between Jesus' teachings on judging others and on choosing the path of righteousness that leads to life. This suggests that prayer is the basis of standing within a fault-filled and sinful humanity, while fulfilling the mandates of the coming Kingdom of God.

Name it and claim it?
Jesus calls us to trust God, who is ready to give us all we need to be faithful in our daily walk with others. If we ask, God's blessings of assurance will be given to us. If we knock, the doors of opportunity to serve in spirit and truth will be opened to us. If we seek the route to a righteous life, we will find it.

Jesus does not say everything we want will be given to us. If that were true, we would have no need to depend on God. A "name it and claim it" theology views God as a servant of creation, rather than creation being used for the purposes of God.

Some Christians believe God will give us every material gift we desire if we are faithful. But God did not create cars, lottery tickets, stock markets, clothing and houses. God did not invent football, basketball, motor sports and baseball. So why do we pray for these mundane objects of our own pleasure?

God creates the body, mind, soul and the will to make the imaginative genius of humanity blossom. Our prayers should not reflect a desire for material acquisition, but spiritual aptness. Material acquisitions are temporary. Spiritual aptness gained through prayer and obedience to God is permanent.

God places a seal and stamp on our lives when we ask to grow in grace and faith. Our prayers should focus on accentuating the spiritual gifts we possess so that we can live for God in the world. Our prayers should reflect a desire for humility of heart and health of body; confession of sin and clarity of mind; decency instead of spiritual death. Our prayers also should reflect discernment amid confusion; thanks for our blessings; and truth to counter the world's propaganda.

All of these qualities require a deepened spiritual commitment led by a disciplined life of prayer. Christian leaders ought to be motivated to live so the world is transformed by our faith in God.

Listen to Mamie Moore
I understand a little better now how Mamie Moore prayed. She had grown in faith to the point that dependency upon the Almighty was second nature to her. Life was no longer complicated by the overwhelming dilemmas of her existence. She knew that God was her only help in times of trouble.

Her list of concerns was reduced to those things that were important in the sight of God. She purged the negative from her life while accentuating the positive. She gave thanks for the intangible gifts of life that only God could offer.

All who aspire to be spiritual leaders ought to listen to Mamie Moore when we take ourselves too seriously. These are the kinds of things she would say when she prayed: "I just want to thank God for waking me up this morning!" "I thank God for clothing me in my right mind!" "I thank God for giving me legs to walk, eyes to see, ears to hear and hands to feel!" "I thank God for blessing me with the ability to pray, because I know God is still in the business of answering prayer!"