Most of us are reluctant to request things of others, but asking is free and can bring a great deal of help. We often hesitate because we fear appearing less knowledgeable or imposing on others, yet asking to become wiser proves the opposite, and many enjoy lending a hand. In Luke 11, Jesus teaches about making requests through a parable of a man who persistently asks his neighbor for bread at midnight and eventually receives it. Jesus clarifies in verse 9 that we should ask, seek, and knock with the proper attitude, promising that those who do so will receive, find, and have doors opened to them. The gifts from God may be tangible blessings or spiritual insights, such as understanding how to apply wisdom or patience to overcome problems. When Jesus says that to him who knocks it will be opened, it means gaining access to something previously closed, whether through personal study, counsel, or other circumstances, with the intent to teach us how to apply God's instruction to solve our issues. God is as concerned with teaching us the process that leads to solutions as He is with providing the solutions themselves. Even if we ask correctly with obedience and sincerity, there may be times when God refuses our requests if they are not in our best interests, if we are being tested to develop patience and faith, or if a larger purpose is at work. However, if we approach with the right heart, most often God will provide the help or answer we seek. We have the greatest Counselor available at any hour, ready to aid us in our needs—all we must do is ask, seek, and knock.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus Christ presents a profound teaching on diligence and spiritual pursuit through the familiar passage of ask, seek, and knock in Matthew 7:7-12. He addresses an unspoken question of how a mere human can fulfill the difficult expectations of God. His reply—ask, seek, and knock—serves as the beginning of the answer, hinting at a deeper, more spiritual process. These three simple imperatives are commands that carry a promise: ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. This repetition in verses 7 and 8 emphasizes the certainty of response—receiving, finding, and having doors opened. Jesus illustrates this principle with rhetorical questions in verses 9 and 10, highlighting that no good parent would give a stone instead of bread or a serpent instead of a fish to a child who asks. This underscores the assurance in verse 11 that God, as our Father, will provide good things to those who ask Him. The focus here is not merely on physical needs but on spiritual gifts that aid in maturing as God's children, fostering a relationship akin to that of a child to a parent, where the goal is growth toward spiritual maturity. The instruction to ask is rooted in prayer, a direct communication with God, petitioning Him for what is necessary. Seeking goes beyond verbal requests, involving active effort and labor of mind and body to pursue God and His ways, to transform into His image by diligently searching for the godly way to live. Knocking implies a persistent request for entrance into a deeper relationship, a tireless dedication to gain access to the precious and exclusive things behind the door, which Christ Himself guards as the gatekeeper to God and His Kingdom. This ongoing practice of asking, seeking, and knocking is described as a way of life, a lifelong process of developing godly character through continuous effort and endurance. It builds intimacy with God, moving from mere communication to active pursuit and, ultimately, to fellowship with Him. The closer this relationship grows, the more likely God will bestow His abundant spiritual gifts upon us, as He desires to give good things to those who ask. The teaching concludes with the Golden Rule in verse 12, urging us to treat others with the kindness and love we receive from God. This response reflects the growth in faith, knowledge, and intimacy with Him, enabling us to live a godly life even in a challenging world, expressing His love and finding peace with others through the strength gained from this spiritual pursuit.