. . . seek, and you will find . . . —Luke 11:9

Seek if you have not found. “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss . . .” (James 4:3). If you ask for things from life instead of from God, “you ask amiss”; that is, you ask out of your desire for self-fulfillment. The more you fulfill yourself the less you will seek God. “. . . seek, and you will find . . . .” Get to work— narrow your focus and interests to this one thing. Have you ever sought God with your whole heart, or have you simply given Him a feeble cry after some emotionally painful experience? “. . . seek, [focus,] and you will find . . . .”

“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters. . .” (Isaiah 55:1). Are you thirsty, or complacent and indifferent— so satisfied with your own experience that you want nothing more of God? Experience is a doorway, not a final goal. Beware of building your faith on experience, or your life will not ring true and will only sound the note of a critical spirit. Remember that you can never give another person what you have found, but you can cause him to have a desire for it.

“. . . knock, and it will be opened to you” (Luke 11:9). “Draw near to God . . .” (James 4:8). Knock— the door is closed, and your heartbeat races as you knock. “Cleanse your hands . . .” (James 4:8). Knock a bit louder— you begin to find that you are dirty. “. . . purify your hearts . . .” (James 4:8). It is becoming even more personal— you are desperate and serious now— you will do anything. “Lament . . . ” (James 4:9). Have you ever lamented, expressing your sorrow before God for the condition of your inner life? There is no thread of self-pity left, only the heart-rending difficulty and amazement which comes from seeing what kind of person you really are. “Humble yourselves . . . ” (James 4:10). It is a humbling experience to knock at God’s door— you have to knock with the crucified thief. “. . . to him who knocks it will be opened” (Luke 11:10).

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Journal DJR
Good morning Lord, Knock, Knock, Knock. I find some things easy to come knocking for on your door and other things not so much. Some things I’ve knocked and knocked and I think I may have just gotten tired…? At least there is a lack of the desperation that is mentioned in the message today. I dont have to dig too much deeper to find unclean heart and hands and lack of faith. It’s a good exercise. Getting humble like the thief on the cross, both so that I can hear better and also believe better and obey better.

That’s good analysis. But good analysis won’t solve your problems. It’s like getting a correct diagnosis of cancer. It’s good to know … but you still have cancer.

OK, then what does one do? In the correctly diagnosed cancer metaphor, there are then treatment options. When we get a lack of faith, or unclean heart diagnosis … are there treatment options?

Accessing my power and life is the cure. But there are different ways that it will be accessed and applied. Remember that there is no cookbook with recipes where one size fits all. That is why you must come knocking and listening to me to get your custom prescription for your lack of faith or unclean heart. There is no 4 step program for you and you cannot prescribe a 4 step program for anyone else. I customize solutions for all of my children.

Lord, help me this day to come knocking with the right heart … and then to be quickly obedient when I hear or see something that is from you. I love you. Thank you for your love.

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