Matthew 7:7-11 (NLT) Jesus: In my kingdom, prayer is not a button to be pushed, it's a relationship to be pursued.. Be in pursuing God in prayer. 7 “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. While in prayer, every sincere disciple is pursuing an infinitely good . 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. How should we picture God’s attitude when he’s listening to our desires? 9 “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? 10 Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! Your persistence in prayer is rooted in you’re asking, not what you’re wanting. 11 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him. Psalm 37:4 (NLT) Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Psalm 84:11 (NLT) For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right. Matthew 17:20 (NLT) 20 “You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.” James 1:6–7 (NLT) 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. James 1:16–17 (NLT) So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father… James 4:2–3 (NLT) …you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. 3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure. What Now? 1. If you’ve been (or started) praying — never stop. 2. Pray with sound theology — it refuels your prayer power. CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION 1. Are you (or someone you care about) praying about anything that has required perseverance? 2. Are there any ways your view of God (aka: theology) has shaped or reshaped your expectations? 3. How might it help you (or someone you care about) to accept that God is infinitely good — as demonstrated by giving you Jesus?