In Matthew 7:8c it says "and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."

What does it mean to "knocketh and it shall be open"?

Entering into a door = entering into a new place

So it means you enter a new stage in life. Of course, before you can enter that door you must first knock. You have to ask.

This post has been edited by Rayn: Nov 1 2009, 08:33 AM

And before you can ask--you must TRUST.

Trust that someone is on the other side of the door and that this "someone" has good things in store for you.
Also, you must humbly trust that you deserve these good and holy "things" He wants to bestow on you.

So, do you trust?

I'm beginning to understand. But not fully yet. Can you give me an example of an everyday life that applies to the verse?

Same with you rayn =)

For example, I wasn't sure whether God wanted me to go to college or not. I was pretty clueless for about a year, but I continued praying for God to show me his will and finally God revealed to me He wanted me to go to college. He opened up another door in my walk.

Another example would be when I pray before I go somewhere for an opportunity to witness to someone. He blesses me by sending someone my way who needs to hear God's word, and giving me chances in the midst of the conversation to speak.

How He chooses to do that is up to Him, and varies from situation to situation.

This post has been edited by Rayn: Nov 2 2009, 07:10 PM

The knock on the door is prayer.

Before I enter the doorway of prayer to God, I must believe that He is there waiting to commune with me. I have to trust that He wants to share intimately with me about my joys and sorrows. I will not bother to go to Him without this trust. I used to attempt to handle situations in my life on my own while giving brief lip service to Christ's power. This silent knocking provided no fruits as it was self centered.

The key to overcoming self-centeredness is humility. Humility breeds trust and multiplies faith which culminated in unceasing prayer. Round and round and round....

First of all, at least take the verse in the context of the surrounding verses, if not the whole chapter.

7Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

8For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

9Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

10Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

11If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Matthew 7:7-11 (KJV)

In the Bible, a precondition for "asking and receiving" is that whatever we ask MUST be in God's perfect will for our lives. The Bible does not teach a Prosperity gospel, or "Name it, claim it" theology.

In verse 8, along with asking God for something and actively seeking the answer, knocking is presented as perseverance: keep knocking, and the door will be opened, you will be given your answer. Furthermore, God only gives good gifts--never bad ones. If you let Him, He will open doors for you to walk through (certain paths you should take in life), and shut other doors (paths you should not take). Walk through the open ones, don't try to force open the closed ones, and your life will be better for it.