Request, seeks and knocks in the prayer

Some teachers of the Bible claim that we walk in unbelief if we ask God the same thing over and over again. It's a heresy ! God has commanded us to ask, to seek, to fast - to cry out in a sincere and effective supplication (see Matthew 7: 7-8). From the beginning, many true servants have turned God's promises into prayers :

• Jesus knew that His Father had promised him all things since before the foundation of the world. Yet, Christ spent hours praying for the will of God to be made on the Earth. He even gave a parable that illustrates perseverance in prayer, about the widow who continually seeks justice from the unfair judge until she obtains it (Luke 18: 1-8).
• God gave Ezekiel wonderful prophecies about the restoration of Israel, promising that the ruins of the nation would become like the Garden of Eden. But the Lord said that this word would not be fulfilled without the prayer : "Behold, on this I will bow to the house of Israel" (Ezek. 36:37). In other words : "I made you a promise, but I want you to pray for it to be fulfilled. Seek me with all your heart until My Word is fulfilled. I will deliver you, but first you must ask."
• God promised Daniel that Israel would be restored after seventy years. When Daniel saw that the appointed moment approached, he could have waited in faith for God to keep His promise. But Daniel fell on his knees and prayed for two weeks, until He saw the Lord act (Daniel 9: 24-27).

In the Old Testament, the priest of Israel wore on his breastplate the name of all the tribes of Israel. This meant that the needs of the people were constantly in the priest's heart, in prayer. What a wonderful image ! It represents Christ, who carries us in his heart and presents our needs to the Father. It is also an image of every Christian, high priest, who cares for others in their hearts.

David Wilkerson