When the disciples asked Jesus how to pray, he began by giving them the prayer guide that we call the Lord’s Prayer (Matt. 6:9-13). Then he told them more (“Ask…seek…knock”), urging them to pray persistently, with complete confidence and security in the Father’s intention to answer perfectly. To emphasize his point, he added, “ If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11).

Notice that exclamation point. I had always assumed the statement to be more of a question, but as it turns out, it’s an emphatic statement of truth—an exclamation! Although the original Greek used neither question marks nor exclamation points, most translators have decided to use an exclamation point here.

This is what we need to keep in mind: Not only does the Lord want us to keep communicating with him, but also to do so with complete confidence in his responsiveness. He will reply to every single prayer in the best way possible.

—Mike Deering