“… 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 interest 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 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 open 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 …” (4:8). Knock a bit louder-you begin to find that you are dirty. “… purify your hearts …” (4:8). It is becoming even more personal-you are desperate and serious now-you will do anything. “Lament …” (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 …” (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 open” (Luke 11:10)