Persistent Prayer!

For Thursday, May 15, 2025:

Luke 11:9 NLT, Jesus speaking: “And so I tell you, 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.”

Jesus is continuing his teaching about prayer, and in these words, he’s highlighting persistence. Jesus’ words remind me of Curtis Mayfield’s song, “Keep On Keeping On,” as he encourages young people to relentlessly pursue love and peace. That seems like a worthy goal, something with which our Savior would be on board.

Our prayers shouldn’t be solely about our desires. That for which we pray needs to be in line with God’s vast eternal plan. And when our desires are in accord with God’s plans, we need to consider God’s timing. You may think you have a good idea, but God will wait for just the right time to bring it to fruition. After all, it’s not MY will be done, but THY will be done!

Jesus promises that the Father hears all our prayers and that he stands ready to provide what’s best for us. Verse 10 concludes, “Everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

Persistent prayer is not wasted time!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Ask, Seek, Knock!

For Friday, February 10, 2023:

Matthew 7:7-8 NIV, Jesus speaking: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”

Our relationship with our higher power should be reciprocal. We should actively seek the Lord, the one who desires a relationship with us!

We shouldn’t assume that God will run us down to show us kindness. We’re best in what I call the ‘immersion mode’ in our relationship with God. Think of it like a swimming pool. You get a running start, pull your knees up, and – ker-splash! – you’re immersed the deep water, all in, no turning back, living with the Lord 24/7! So when something comes up, the Lord is your first call for help!

Jesus tells us to ask, seek and knock. If you don’t ask, you’ll never receive an answer. If you don’t seek, nothing will be found. If there’s no knocking, no one will answer the door. Remember to think of God as your Father in Heaven. He’s always listening for our asks and seeks. If he hears knocking, he’ll open the door! So prioritize your relationship with your Father.

The Lord stands ready to help the faithful!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Love of Christ!

For Wednesday, June 30, 2021

Ephesians 3:19 NLT: “May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”

Have you experienced the love of Christ? Personally experienced it? The Bible says to ask and it will be given; seek and you find; knock and the door will be opened. If you need a spiritual assist in how your life is going, don’t just lament over the situation. Bring it to the Lord. Let it become a habit!

The Lord stands ready to pour out everlasting lovingkindness when we ask, seek and knock!

Blessings to all today!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Ask, Seek, Knock!

For Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Luke 11:10 NLT: “Everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”

God does not hide from mankind, and heaven isn’t some secluded mystery. The Lord has made himself available to everyone. What we need to do is knock, seek and ask!

Jesus, Son of God and 2^nd part of our triune God, came to earth to personally connect us with our Creator. Jesus taught God’s principles, healed those who needed healing, but most importantly became the propitiation for mankind’s sins. Jesus made it so that if we’d knock on heaven’s door, it was possible for us to enter!

God’s desire is that we would all join him in the hereafter. He wants us all to repent and return, but we have a choice: to seek or not to seek! It’s up to you!

Blessings today!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Ask - Pray

May 19, 2014 Monday Message:

It is not the Church’s business in this world to simply make your present condition, your current misery, more bearable. God’s intention is not to make you feel more at ease in the mire; rather, He will lift you up and place you on a solid rock. (Psalm 40:2)

God is always willing to help; miracles still happen. But first we need to ask him. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened.” (Luke 11:9)

Oftentimes we under-ask – we ask for far less than God wants to give. The lame man at the healing pool just asked for help getting into the water when it moved. Jesus wanted to give him new legs. (John 5)

Are we willing to settle for less than God is willing to give? Are your low expectations robbing you of all that God could do to help? By assuming the impossibility of your situation, are you limiting God? Understand that you can’t limit God, but you can limit your expectations of what God can do for you.

The blind guy on the road to Jericho got it right.

Jesus asked, “What do you want me to do for you.”

And he replied, “I want to see!”

And Jesus said, “Receive your sight – your faith has healed you!”

Miracles require faith, faith that God can and will do for us what we cannot do for ourselves.

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets every Sunday, at 10:30am, in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week Pastor Michael Pilla continues our study in Acts.