ASK… SEEK… KNOCK… Shameless Persistence: When Faith Has Conviction Beyond Appearances

The Relationship Series – Book #5: Relating With Your PURSUIT

Inspired by “Our Secret Weapon,” the opening message delivered by Bishop Darryl B. Starnes at the Piedmont Leadership Training Institute, drawn from Luke 11:1–13, Ask, Seek, Knock: Shameless Persistence explores the transformative power of prayer and the unwavering faith required to pursue God’s purposes beyond what circumstances appear to reveal.

Prayer is often described as an intimate conversation with God, yet in practice, it is frequently reduced to presenting Him with our personal “to-do” list. As we mature in our walk with God, however, we discover that prayer is not simply about speaking to Him, but also about listening for Him.

What begins as a self-serving monologue matures into an intricate, life-transforming dialogue – one in which we freely share our hearts while humbly yielding to the divine work of allowing God to shape them. It is through this consistent, intimate communion that we discover the true art of asking:

ASK: Articulate. Give voice to your petitions with clarity, confidence, and faith.

SEEK: Investigate. Pursue God’s wisdom, direction, and revelation with diligence and intentionality.

KNOCK: Activate. Move beyond passive expectation to actively engage the opportunities that faith places before you.

These three dimensions of asking reveal both the depth of our belief in what God can do and the determination of our hearts concerning what we will do. They challenge us to recognize that genuine faith is not merely expressed through what we say we believe, but demonstrated through what we are willing to pursue. True asking requires action.

In “Ask… Seek… Knock… Shameless Persistence: When Faith Has Conviction Beyond Appearances”, Angelia J. Poole takes an in-depth look at biblical accounts of those whose persistent petitions, determined pursuits, and courageous actions demonstrated a faith that refused to be discouraged by delay, deterred by difficulty, or defeated by appearances.

Their experiences invite us to examine our own relationship with God, our response to His direction, and our willingness to persist when the evidence before us seems to contradict the promises we believe.

Because when we ask in faith, we pursue with focus – regardless of appearances.