Ask, and It Shall Be Given: Prayer as Duty and Privilege

Our Lord's command in Matthew 6:7 offers not a formal definition of prayer, but an incidental one—most complete. To pray is to ask (aiteo) of God; the more childlike the asking, the better. Christ stimulates obedience through four encouragements. First, He calls attention to universal experience: "Every one that asketh, receiveth." Prayer is not an experiment but a proven principle. Second, He points to parental conduct toward children. Third, He offers gentle reference to our common depravity—"If ye, being evil"—yet God surpasses all earthly fathers in willingness to bestow good gifts.

Prayer remains a duty even without desire. As men sometimes lose appetite for food yet must eat daily to survive, so must we pray as duty when we cannot pray as privilege. Prayer is no runaway knock at a door. Foolish boys knock in wantonness and depart; a man with business knocks repeatedly until he receives his answer. Keep up the suit until hearing day comes.

Every promise attaches to duty. You must perform it scripturally—not when you shall receive, but that you shall. The whole Trinity combines before prayer can ascend. This language declares entire dependence: "Man is empty." God's method tries the grace He intends to crown. Never fear being too earnest in proseuche (prayer). Approach only God—the only Being everywhere present—at any time, any place, with ordered thought and earnest heart.