This past Sunday, our Lead Pastor, Ben Johnson, preached a message entitled “Just Ask, When Prayer Feels Hard.” Pastor Ben walked us through Matthew 7, reminding us to first examine our own hearts before judging others, and to approach God with humility and sincerity. He emphasized that prayerlessness often reveals a heart that feels self-sufficient, rather than dependent on God. Drawing from Jesus’ words—“ask, seek, knock”— he encouraged us to admit our need, pursue God’s direction, and persist in prayer with urgency and faith. Pastor Ben reassured us that God is near, attentive, and eager to respond, giving good gifts to His children. This message invites us to move toward God in honest, humble prayer, trusting that He hears us and responds according to His will.

✍️ Notes
Title: Just Ask, When Prayer Feels Hard -  Ben Johnson

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?  How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Matthew 7:1–5 (NIV)

Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
Matthew 7:6 (NIV)

The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
Psalm 145:18

God, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand. I’m an open book to you; even from a distance, you know what I’m thinking. You know when I leave and when I get back; I’m never out of your sight. You know everything I’m going to say before I start the first sentence. I look behind me and you’re there, then up ahead and you’re there, too — your reassuring presence, coming and going. This is too much, too wonderful — I can’t take it all in!
Psalm 139:1-6

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.
1 John 5:14

“Prayerlessness is almost always a humility issue-the natural consequence of a heart that tends to believe it is good without God.”
– Jackie Hill Perry (Upon Waking)

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.
Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV)

⭑ Ask – Admit your need.
⭑ Seek – when you need God’s direction.
⭑ Knock – with urgency and persistence.

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.
Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV)

Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
Matthew 7:9-11 (NIV)

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