05/06/2026
âAsk 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 openedâ (Matthew 7:7-8).
Welcome back dear student, reading that verse I see the wordsâŚask, seek, knock, and receive.
Sounds pretty straightforward doesnât it?
So why do some struggle to see answers to prayer?
Itâs a lonely place waiting for breakthrough. There are many reasons prayers go unanswered â sin is one major block, but itâs not always that.
Sometimes it can be just plain old resistance by the enemy.
Psalm ninety-one talks about the snare of the fowler - hidden traps used to catch prey (Psalm 91:3).
The devil sets up tactics that ensnare folks into dark holes that require wisdom and deliverance (Zechariah 9:11-12).
As believers in Jesus Christ, we are targets of the enemy who seeks to divert Godâs plan of blessing, using every dirty method he can, to destroy joy.
Fear, abuse, sickness, torment, rejection, trauma and poverty are just a few.
These problems keep Godâs people in crisis - fighting fires, trying to survive.
But God never planned for His people to just survive (1 John 5:4; Romans 8:37).
He calls us overcomers, and more than conquerors through Christ!
We have been given authority in the Name of Jesus as Godâs Kingdom ambassadors.
Jesus said, âBehold, I give you authority to trample on Satan, his snakes, and scorpions and over all the power of the devil, and nothing shall by any means hurt youâ (Luke 10:17-19)
We have been granted authority with the legal right to operate Godâs power over the kingdom of darkness as part of our Salvation in the Blood of Christ (Psalm 91:13).
We are in a spiritual war.
And Godâs Word arms us with strength for the warfare (Psalm 18:32-35).
Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against wicked, demonic spirits who try to destroy Godâs people (Ephesians 6:10-18).
But we must not listen to the lies of Satan, for he is already judged and headed for the fire!
So how do we boost our faith to stand against the attacks, and see Godâs plans come to pass?
By taking the Lord at His Word.
Literally.
Our faith grows from spending time with Jesus, the Word of God.
In studying the Bible, we learn how to pray effectively to see our prayers answered.
âHow beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news. But not everyone welcomes the good news, for Isaiah the prophet said Lord who has believed our message? So then, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of Godâ (Romans 10:15-17).
The mountains around Killarney have turned purple from the wild Rhododendrons â they are abundant with flowers this year.
Each one of those plants started as a seed.
The Word of God is a seed.
And in the same way that it took time for those little plants to get established and spread, our faith needs time to cultivate.
We each have been given a measure of faith (Romans 12:3).
Picture faith like a muscle on a little newbornâs leg.
Over years, as the child grows, those leg muscles are developed and strengthened.
If that child didnât walk the muscles would waste and they couldnât stand up.
We must all learn how to crawl, then walk, and finally run - not just in our physical bodies, but more importantly in the Spirit.
Seek God through His Word for the answers to your questions and problems (Jeremiah 29:11-14; Psalm 91:1).
Open the door and enter into the secret place of His Presence, and find Him there waiting to fellowship with you, His beloved, and receive!
weekly Bible study article published 05.06.26
image by RheaHoldstock courtesy of pixabay.com
