“Ask, Seek, Knock: What Are You Really Asking For?”

Luke 11:9 has long been one of my favorite scriptures, but it’s also one I’ve misquoted more times than I can count—mostly to myself. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” For years, I interpreted this as Jesus telling us to pray persistently and expectantly, and eventually, we’d get what we wanted. Not in a “name it, claim it” way, but perhaps leaning in that direction.

Yet, as I’ve spent more time with this passage, I’ve come to see that Luke, in his masterful storytelling, doesn’t let us settle for a superficial reading. His gospel often introduces an idea, only to clarify or challenge it later. This seems to be the case here.

A Clarifying Encounter

In the very next chapter, Jesus is approached by a man seeking resolution to a family dispute:

“Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me” (Luke 12:13).

Jesus’s response is both direct and surprising: “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” (Luke 12:14).

Here, Jesus refuses to grant the man’s request. Instead, He shifts the focus entirely, using the opportunity to address something deeper: “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15).

Jesus is essentially saying, “What you’re asking for isn’t the problem; why you’re asking for it is.”

What’s Driving Your Prayer?

This interaction in Luke 12 forces us to confront our own motives when we pray. Why do we want the things we’re asking for? Is it greed? Pride? Envy? Are we chasing after something simply because we see others with it?

In Luke 11, Jesus invites us to ask, seek, and knock—but He’s not promising to grant every request we bring to Him. Instead, He’s inviting us into a deeper relationship with Himself. It’s not about things. It’s about Him.

This becomes crystal clear just a few verses later:

“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13).

Jesus promises that God will give us the greatest gift of all: His very Spirit. And that is a prayer He will always answer.

The Heart of the Matter

When we pray, perhaps the most important question isn’t “What am I asking for?” but “Why am I asking for it?” Are we seeking God’s will, or are we trying to align Him with ours? Are we longing for more of Him, or are we hoping He’ll fill the gaps with what we think will satisfy us?

The beauty of Luke 11:9 isn’t in the guarantee that God will give us whatever we ask for. It’s in the invitation to persistently, relentlessly, and boldly pursue Him. Because when we seek Him, we find Him. When we knock, the door opens to a deeper relationship. And when we ask for His Spirit, He gives Himself freely.

So, the next time we pray, let’s ask the hard questions about our motives. And then, let’s ask, seek, and knock—not for more of the world, but for more of Him. That’s a prayer that will always be answered.