Today’s Reading:
Matthew 6
Matthew 7
Hebrews 12
“Ask, and the gift is yours. Seek, and you’ll discover. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. For every persistent one will get what he asks for. Every persistent seeker will discover what he longs for. And everyone who knocks persistently will one day find an open door.”
Matthew 7:7-8 TPT
I heard the Spirit of the Living God say,
Knock, and you shall have the door opened for you. Seek, and you shall find. Ask, and you shall receive. Knock and keep knocking. Sing as you knock. Praise as you knock. Hum words and songs of thanksgiving as you knock, and the door will be opened to you. I don’t leave My children wanting bread, and I don’t leave them standing on the outside. Pursue Me, and you shall find Me. Seek Me, and you will overtake Me.
“Do you know of any parent who would give his hungry child, who asked for food, a plate of rocks instead? Or when asked for a piece of fish, what parent would offer his child a snake instead? If you, imperfect as you are, know how to lovingly take care of your children and give them what’s best, how much more ready is your heavenly Father to give wonderful gifts to those who ask him?”
Matthew 7:9-11 TPT
Like a good father, as a good father, I not only hide Myself for your fun and enjoyment and delight and discovery, when you find Me, I allow you to win. This is the way of the Kingdom. It’s the same as a young child with their father. Hide and seek is for joy, delight, discovery and strengthening connection. It is for having you learn and grow accustomed to the process and to get you used to winning. Because this is what I have stored up for you — delights in Me, treasures in Me and victory every time.
And isn’t it true that we respect our earthly fathers even though they corrected and disciplined us? Then we should demonstrate an even greater respect for God, our spiritual Father, as we submit to his life-giving discipline. Our parents corrected us for the short time of our childhood as it seemed good to them. But God corrects us throughout our lives for our own good, giving us an invitation to share his holiness. Now all discipline seems to be painful at the time, yet later it will produce a transformation of character, bringing a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who yield to it.
Hebrews 12:9-11 TPT
That door has been shut for a long time, but we have been playing these significant games of hide and seek, of growing in victory on the outside of the door. This has been strengthening you, growing you and equipping you. And now is the time to knock again, to worship as you knock, because now is the appointed time for Me to open this long shut door for you. You have the strength, the equipping. You have been through the wilderness and refining. You have died many deaths to self, and you have the strength and purity to now walk through this door in light and in victory without being crushed. It was all for a purpose. I haven’t held you back on this side of the door to tease you or to hurt you. It has been to strengthen, to refine, to retool and cause you to live in the pure delight of Me on this side of the door. You have come through the tests and the games that I have set before you. And now, knock again My dear. Knock again. This time the door will open. This time you have everything you need to be victorious as I usher you in, across the threshold of this long-awaited door.
How to Respond
- Delight in the Lord and return to the door that has long seemed sealed shut to you.
- Pray, Holy Spirit thank You for teaching me, for testing me, for refining me and walking with me through the fire and the desert wilderness. Thank You that You only hide Yourself to be found, and You delight in teaching me how to pursue You and grow in victory. Thank You that this is the appointed time for the door to open. Give me the courage to return to it with praise and knock again.
- Declare, “So above all, constantly seek God’s kingdom and his righteousness, then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly.”
— Matthew 6:33 TPT - Decree, The Lord has been growing me, teaching me, strengthening me and refining me. He has helped me walk through many deaths to self, so I can live in greater purity and find closer connection to Him. He is an absolutely good father, and He has tested me and set in me games that were to teach me, grow me, purify me and benefit me. These have all been to strengthen and deepen my connection to Him and to help me grow accustomed to victory. I will walk up to that door that has long been sealed shut, and I will approach it with songs of praise and thanksgiving. I will knock again, and this time, it will be opened for me.
For more encouragement from The Glory & New Wine, check out the post from this day in years past:
2025:
2024:
2023:
2022:
