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Thursday, April 6, 2023
Jesus taught some fascinating principles about the persistence we should have in prayer in Luke
11 …
Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this story: “Suppose you went to a friend’s house at
midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, ‘A friend of
mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.’ And
suppose he calls out from his bedroom, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is locked for
the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can’t help you.’ But I tell
you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long
enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless
persistence. “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you
ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door
will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks,
finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. “You fathers—if
your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask
for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people
know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly
Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”
There is so much in this passage. But what did you hear? How do these words challenge you to pray?
And how should you change your prayers to match these principles? More
persistence? More honesty? More expectation? A healthier perspective that God
wants to bless you?
Listen to this passage again in The Message Bible …
Then he said, “Imagine what would happen if you went to a friend in the middle of the night
and said, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread. An old friend traveling
through just showed up, and I don’t have a thing on hand.’ “The friend answers
from his bed, ‘Don’t bother me. The door’s locked; my children are all down for
the night; I can’t get up to give you anything.’ “But let me tell you, even if
he won’t get up because he’s a friend, if you stand your ground, knocking and
waking all the neighbors, he’ll finally get up and get you whatever you need.
“Here’s what I’m saying: Ask and you’ll get; Seek and you’ll find; Knock and
the door will open. “Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need.
This is not a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we’re in. If your little boy
asks for a serving of fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? If
your little girl asks for an egg, do you trick her with a spider? As bad as you
are, you wouldn’t think of such a thing—you’re at least decent to your own
children. And don’t you think the Father who conceived you in love will give
the Holy Spirit when you ask him?”
So, how much do you ask? Seek? Knock? Do you pray one or two times and then assume you have already
prayed for it? Or do you pray for fish but in your heart expect snakes? Jesus
made a lot of promises to us here. Maybe we should start to take Him up on
them?
As you ruminate on this, let’s take some slow deep breaths once again.
Breathe deep then slowly exhale and let go of your strife and stress. Move into the balance God
offers you in this new day by trusting Him.
Let’s pray together: “Heavenly Father, forgive me when I expect but don’t ask. Forgive me when I ask
for fish but think you’re going to hand me a snake. Help me change my mind so
You can change my heart. Let my prayers be like a child expecting good gifts
from a Father. As above, so below.”
View all episodes
By Kindred Resources / SPS
5
1313 ratings
Jesus taught some fascinating principles about the persistence we should have in prayer in Luke
11 …
Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this story: “Suppose you went to a friend’s house at
midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, ‘A friend of
mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.’ And
suppose he calls out from his bedroom, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is locked for
the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can’t help you.’ But I tell
you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long
enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless
persistence. “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you
ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door
will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks,
finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. “You fathers—if
your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask
for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people
know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly
Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”
There is so much in this passage. But what did you hear? How do these words challenge you to pray?
And how should you change your prayers to match these principles? More
persistence? More honesty? More expectation? A healthier perspective that God
wants to bless you?
Listen to this passage again in The Message Bible …
Then he said, “Imagine what would happen if you went to a friend in the middle of the night
and said, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread. An old friend traveling
through just showed up, and I don’t have a thing on hand.’ “The friend answers
from his bed, ‘Don’t bother me. The door’s locked; my children are all down for
the night; I can’t get up to give you anything.’ “But let me tell you, even if
he won’t get up because he’s a friend, if you stand your ground, knocking and
waking all the neighbors, he’ll finally get up and get you whatever you need.
“Here’s what I’m saying: Ask and you’ll get; Seek and you’ll find; Knock and
the door will open. “Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need.
This is not a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we’re in. If your little boy
asks for a serving of fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? If
your little girl asks for an egg, do you trick her with a spider? As bad as you
are, you wouldn’t think of such a thing—you’re at least decent to your own
children. And don’t you think the Father who conceived you in love will give
the Holy Spirit when you ask him?”
So, how much do you ask? Seek? Knock? Do you pray one or two times and then assume you have already
prayed for it? Or do you pray for fish but in your heart expect snakes? Jesus
made a lot of promises to us here. Maybe we should start to take Him up on
them?
As you ruminate on this, let’s take some slow deep breaths once again.
Breathe deep then slowly exhale and let go of your strife and stress. Move into the balance God
offers you in this new day by trusting Him.
Let’s pray together: “Heavenly Father, forgive me when I expect but don’t ask. Forgive me when I ask
for fish but think you’re going to hand me a snake. Help me change my mind so
You can change my heart. Let my prayers be like a child expecting good gifts
from a Father. As above, so below.”