Press the arrow to listen to Desperation Band lead “Promises” while reading about uncomfortable prayer.

Scripture
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!” Matthew 7:7-11

Observation
There are layers of prayer, but most are unexplored because we give up too soon. To press upward to the next level of prayer, we are required to pass through chilly emotions. We often recoil from them, because prayer doesn’t feel comfortable or simple any longer. More emotion is required of us to warm the atmosphere than we are prepared to give. As a result, many answers go unclaimed from God because we weren’t prepared to push through the awkward regions of prayer and to still believe.

Asking is the first level of prayer. The simple foundation of prayer is a personal relationship with our Father. We know that he listens so we ask him questions. This is a cozy experience of prayer. God seems near enough to ask and so we make our requests and listen. For many, this is the only level of prayer that they have known. They have never walked outdoors beyond the warm living room with the Lord. Even within this comfortable place of prayer, many have not used it to its full advantage. To ask in prayer implies that we put questions to God and wait for an answer. King David did this constantly. When faced with a dilemma he would “inquire” of the Lord. He would put a question and wait for an answer. There is a level of prayer where God’s voice is near. We pray a prayer and there is a sense of rightness about a certain direction we plan to take. Jesus called that “receiving”, because if we ask, we should expect to receive.

Seeking is the second level of prayer. Some have never touched this level because it requires them to walk out into the cold outdoors and to leave behind the comfortable living room of asking. Seeking implies that something is lost or hidden from sight. Searching also implies that there will be many stones unturned, streets walked and corners looked around with no result. This level of prayer is less comfortable because the closeness with the Lord is not as evident. There is a sense of confusion and uncertainty about what is right. There will be mistakes and blunders as many options are explored. For those immature, there is initial certainty that God has said this or that. But after a few dead ends in the searching they become disillusioned to know if indeed they heard God or could ever hear God. Those who are seasoned at this level of prayer, are comfortable with their mistakes and ignorance enough to keep on searching for the next door. Hopes will be raised and dashed. But deep within they know that at some point the answer will be found and it will be better than all the alternatives visited along the way. The danger in the seeking process is that there are many good options on the way to the best one. There is an inner ought that pushes the heart on to leave something good behind in search of the best. That is a hard call to make, but to those who seek, they will find. When the answer comes, all of the frustration of the searching fades into memory.

Knocking is the third level of prayer. Few indeed have ever found this because they have not weathered the asking and seeking levels. But those who have, arrive at an answer only to find the door firmly locked. The wind blows. Neighbours twitch curtains and peer out the window to see who is making so much racket in the street. Knocking once isn’t too hard. Knocking twice is uncomfortable. Giving a firm rap on the door a third time is almost embarrassing. But those with a knocking spirit, have no difficulty making fools of themselves at God’s front door. Indifferent to waking the neighbours, they will persist in pounding. Standing in a dark street in front of a locked door is a lonely and exposed feeling. But this level of prayer quickly turns from rejection in to embracing acceptance as the Father opens the door and welcomes us in. Knocking leads us to a new living room of acceptance where we can ask for yet even more.

Application
There is more to prayer than I’ve explored. Right now Leslie and I have been interceding together in ways we haven’t done so in a very long time. I’m seeing some of these levels. I want so much to get from this a testimony, so first I must pass through the test.

Prayer
Father, I’ve asked and I’ve sought. Today I begin knocking in earnest. Amen.