Ask, Seek, Knock

(Parents, today’s devotion is material from Elizabeth’s newest book, A Girl’s Guide to Prayer. We pray it blesses you and your tween!)

Praying once is a good thing, but once is not enough. For instance, when you see your friends, you don’t just say “Hi” and keep on walking. No, you want to hug them and catch up on what’s happening in their lives. You want to talk about all kinds of things!

That’s how God desires for us to do with Him through prayer. Jesus described the process of ongoing prayer:

Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you (Matthew 7:7).

In the verse above, underline every time God tells you to “keep on.”

In your own words, when God tells you to “keep on” doing something, what does it mean you should do? ___________________________________________________________

God created you, and He knows you. He loves you and wants to hear from you. One way you can let Him know you love Him too is to “keep on” praying. Keep on talking to Him and keep on asking Him for His help with everything in your life—both the good things and the bad.

Matthew 7:8 explains how this works: For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

In this verse, Jesus uses illustrations to describe how God answers your prayers. “…to everyone who knocks, the _________________ will be __________________. 

First Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Never stop praying.” So how often should you be praying.

I’m guessing you probably worry about L-O-T-S of things, right? Well, the Bible tells you what to do instead of worrying. Read Philippians 4:6 below and circle what you should not do. Then underline what you should do instead.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.

Wow! Prayer is a blessing! Let’s be intentional to “keep on” praying about everything all the time.

RESPOND

Dear God, please give me greater faith and remind me to pray about everything. I want to keep on coming to You in prayer about everything. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES

NEW RELEASES! A Girl’s Guide to Prayerby Elizabeth George and A Boy’s Guide to Prayerby Jim George—These wonderful resources will help your tween understand what prayer really is, how to pray effectively, and what they can pray for. 

Art Prints–We’ve created special prints to help you remember trust!

REFLECT

Do you worry A L-O-T? Memorize Philippians 4:6 and repeat it every time you are tempted to worry.

REMEMBER

God created you, and He knows you. He loves you and wants to hear from you.