Clay Piper's Album: Wall Photos

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And After That What’s Next To Do?
And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Luke 11:9

Seek if you have not found. “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss . . .” (Jas_4:3). If you ask for things from life instead of from God, “you ask amiss”; that is, you ask out of your desire for self-fulfillment. The more you fulfill yourself the less you will seek God. “. . . seek, and you will find . . . .” Get to work --- narrow your focus and interests to this one thing. Have you ever sought God with your whole heart, or have you simply given Him a feeble cry after some emotionally painful experience? “. . . seek, [focus,] and you will find . . . .”

“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters. . .” (Isa_55:1). Are you thirsty, or complacent and indifferent --- so satisfied with your own experience that you want nothing more of God? Experience is a doorway, not a final goal. Beware of building your faith on experience, or your life will not ring true and will only sound the note of a critical spirit. Remember that you can never give another person what you have found, but you can cause him to have a desire for it.

“. . . knock, and it will be opened to you” (Luk_11:9). “Draw near to God . . .” (Jas_4:8). Knock --- the door is closed, and your heartbeat races as you knock. “Cleanse your hands . . .” (Jas_4:8). Knock a bit louder --- you begin to find that you are dirty. “. . . purify your hearts . . .” (Jas_4:8). It is becoming even more personal --- you are desperate and serious now --- you will do anything. “Lament . . . “ (Jas_4:9). Have you ever lamented, expressing your sorrow before God for the condition of your inner life? There is no thread of self-pity left, only the heart-rending difficulty and amazement which comes from seeing what kind of person you really are. “Humble yourselves . . . “ (Jas_4:10). It is a humbling experience to knock at God’s door --- you have to knock with the crucified thief. “. . . to him who knocks it will be opened” (Luk_11:10).




My Utmost For His Highest ~ Oswald Chambers