The difficulties that are part of the life of the Christian can lead to a picture of dissatisfaction, insecurity, depression, which causes many to stop believing in the efficacy of the prayer of faith. In Matthew 7: 7-8 Jesus presents some elements that can be considered the steps of the conquest of a blessing, through faith in God and the personal assurance that Christ offers the successful formula for the confrontation of human problems and difficulties.
Ask, search, hit
"Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and you shall find, strike, and it shall be opened: for he who asks receives, and, what he seeks, finds, and to him who beats, it opens" (Mt 7: 7-8 ).
These verses have generated different interpretations, since many make use of them to encourage the believer to ask, always, as if the Lord were obliged to attend to all the requests of anyone who addresses a prayer, even if it has a simple selfish stamp . Others, however, do not understand the exact proportion and scope of Christ's words and only part of their orientation.
A deeper analysis of the biblical text reveals a context in which Christ points to a sequence of elements, a stream of events that need to be considered as a whole, so that the desired efficacy emerges: Ask ... search ... ..
These contextual characteristics require, in the first place, that there is a need, a difficulty to be overcome, and the confidence that God is giving the conditions for his improvement. The Lord does not specify any condition unless he hungers for his mercy, desire of his advice, and long for his name.
Suppose, for example, that someone is facing two of the following situations: one is unemployed and needs a job with which he can support you and your family, and where you can serve God without major problems; another is sick, discouraged and needs to improve his health. These and various other situations are faced by people, even believers, and the steps taken by Christ are the same.
In the daily practice of the Christian, God knows all the needs and difficulties that affect his children. And when the believer manifests his need or difficulty, in an attitude of trust and sincerity, through prayer, he is ready to hear. However, the act of asking needs to contain the specificity. The request must be specific: "I want (that) ... I need (of that), and before the real need of divine action, God intervenes.
One of the main points, therefore, is the sincere faith that God is able to hear the prayer addressed to Him.
But Jesus did not show that he should just ask. He continues his teaching by pointing to the next step of the prayer: "search." Following the request that is made, the faith must be activated, put into practice. He who prays with faith, certainly receives immediately a certainty, a courage to perform or face any difficulty or problem. The request was made, the promise of receipt is true.
Then, having the certainty that his prayer was heard, we must go in search of what was asked, it is necessary to put faith in action. The search for what is wanted is part of the conquest, of the requested blessing. Many times, but in the vast majority of the time, God responds to the request made through the action of going after what is wanted. When we give God our need, He will promptly provide the means to solve that need, to meet the request made. However, God's miracles require human participation. In the case of the death of Lazarus, it is perceived that Jesus was resurrected, but there were others who withdrew the sales, the ropes. The search shows the human condition of trusting that God provided the means, by hearing the prayer made and that now we must go behind what was asked of us.
Having found the means through the search, the following stage is followed: "Bate". Hitting means having the courage to face fear, insecurity, but, above all, the certainty that God placed the intended response in front.
The final step, to strike, requires the confidence that God has been, from the beginning of the petition, in command of the situation and that, for the love of the one who puts himself in their hands, he will respond in the best possible way. He is providing, in this last stage, the appropriate solution to the request made.
Analyzing the situation of unemployment: I have put my need before God, with faith that He heard me; At that time, God already provided the third stage, but I still do not know. Employment will hardly come to my door. Maybe God sends someone to call me, that I know about the job for someone else, but in general, it's me who has to go in search.
The search requires effort, dedication, encouragement. I want to work, so I leave, not only taking resumes in companies, but searching, talking, checking in employment agencies, on the Internet, etc. When I know of a vacancy then I hit, that is, I go to the place, I try to converse, to show the best I can do, the pretension to work and to do something for the company to receive the expected return. Many already get the answer of the prayer at that moment.
In the question of health, I pray for my improvement, for healing, but I can not continue ruining my body; It is necessary to go in search of a doctor, a treatment, changes in habits and lifestyle. God can do the miracle of immediate healing, but it often depends on a change of life, and especially on the vision I have of God and my body as His temple.
In the steps of conquering victory over a problem, a difficulty, an anxiety, Jesus showed that He is willing to respond and give the solution, to open the doors, to provide the escape, to lead his children until they find what they really need, what is of real importance. The gifts of God are reserved for their children.
The promises of God belong to those who believe, who seek and who do not discourage in the face of adversity. And the specific promise of Jesus is that, if these stages are followed, with faith and perseverance, the result is true: to the one who asks, he receives; what you are looking for, find; the one who hits, opens. This is a truth that can be perceived in all aspects of life, both physical and spiritual. Faith is the key to overcoming any adversity.
The Word of God contains profound teachings, and many of our evils would not exist, or not persist, if we only meditated on what the biblical texts speak to us. For the Christian, and especially in the present time, in which everything indicates the brief coming of Christ, it is essential to analyze the teachings of Christ, adopting as a rule of faith and life, teaching others to know and walk with Him, so that we can have the fullness of life promised to all those who accept Jesus as their Savior.
