On Prayer

Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacityhe will surely get up and give you as much as you need.
“So I say to you: 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.
“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 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 the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:1-13


After demonstrating to His disciples the model prayer (v. 1-4), Jesus went on to emphasize the personal application. It was customary for rabbis to compose special prayers, which apparently prompted this request from a disciple. His advice: don't give up. Keep on asking for what you need, even if you think God is getting tired of hearing you ask. If a human friend will grant your wish just to get you out of his hair, how much more likely will God give to you because He loves you? God has His reasons and His timing, but He does not want us to think He isn't interested in our needs. I love the comparison here to shamelessness in pressing on with our petitions to the Father. I've been shameless. He hears. He WILL answer. Actually, the provision has already been made. We just haven't realized it yet.

The grammatical construction of vs. 9 reads: "ask, keep asking...seek, keep seeking....knock, keep knocking..." You will receive, you will find, the door will be opened to you.

Jesus illustrates with reference to human fathers. If your child asks for a fish, you won't give him a snake. That would be cruel, and even an evil human father wouldn't be so mean. Even the worst of us know how to give good gifts. We Church Age believers have had the Holy Spirit since the Day of Pentecost (Acts 10:45, Romans 8:9), but Jesus was on the earth during the Age of Israel. The Holy Spirit was given for special service during that time, and granted by special request. Hence, the comment in v.13.

So, child of God, He is listening. He has provided for your every need. Why, then, must we ask? To orient our thinking to the source of all good things. To understand and appreciate the One Who gives, and has given our daily sustenance. The One Who does far more abundantly than we can ever ask or think (Ephesians 3:20) is waiting to pour out His blessings on us day by day. As we ask, our attitude becomes adjusted to the mind of Christ. Is this His will for me? Is it the right time for this thing to be a part of my life? I find my most fervent prayers are on behalf of others whom I love and want good things for. I do ask shamelessly for those gifts and blessings. Then, oh Lord, do your will in me. Whatever that is. Your will. In me. Always.