P.U.S.H.

“For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”   —Luke 11:10

My son and daughter-in-law purchased one of those grand older homes with great potential. That’s code for “it will either be a beautifully restored classic house some day or a real money pit.” On my days off, I usually get away from Johnstown, books and computers; put on work clothes and remodel, cut firewood, or hunt/fish. Monday, I planned to work at my son’s new house. I had the key to the fancy kitchen door, but it wouldn’t open.

The first time Ryan worked with that door, he couldn’t get it to stay unlocked. Being an older and wiser dad, I simply showed my son how to work this intricate lock. There are buttons built into the edge of the door that release or lock the door. I told him he was not used to working with such expensive locks. As I turned the key this past Monday, I could feel the handle budge, but it wouldn’t open. I tried several times, but the handle would not turn. After several attempts, I gave up and inspected every window, door, and crawl space for a way into the house. No success! I couldn’t get in. Off to the mountain to cut firewood for my daughter. Sorry, Ryan; if you want help, I’ve got to have the right key.

When my son came home, we took the key and tried the door. Ryan looked at me and said, “The handle never moves; remember the buttons. You just have to push.” The door unlocked every time I turned the key. It was open. I simply had to push. What’s funnier yet; I used the same key the week before and got in just fine. What a parable for Christians and prayer. So many times we pray and pray waiting for some specific handle to release when the door is open and waiting for us to push ahead in faith.

The lyrics from a southern Gospel classic state, “Prayer is the key to heaven, but faith unlocks the door.”  Faith requires a step of obedience believing God will act. Faith persists even though the answer is a long time coming. Sometimes, God seems like an unjust judge, unwilling to act (Luke 18:1-8). At other times, God might appear as an unwilling friend, but Jesus tells us God will, does, and has already answered our prayers. We simple must P.U.S.H—pray until something happens. If human parents give good gifts to their children, “How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him”(Luke 11:13).

A dear friend and colleague once gave me this quote about pray and faith. “The prayer of a good faith—God can do it. The prayer of a strong faith—God will do it. But the prayer of a perfect faith—God has done it.” Praying until something happens comes from a faith that believes God’s promise as if it has already been accomplished. “For everyone who asks, receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened” (Luke 11:10). For some, it has already been opened. All there is left for us to do is push it open in faith.

What have you been asking from the Lord? Have you been seeking for a long time? Are you continually knocking? Maybe it is time to take an action step and live as if God has already answered your prayer. Push forward. Pray until something happens, and then, move as if it has.