How often do you pray? Have you ever been really passionate about praying for something that you desperately wanted?
As we look at the Gospel reading for this Sunday (Luke 11:1-13), we notice how Jesus wanted to emphasize the fact that we can and ought to be persistent if we really want something! After giving his disciples a model prayer (what we refer today as The Lord's Prayer), he told a story. What if you needed some extra food because company is coming. You would go to your neighbor and ask. It is your persistence that motivates your neighbor to respond and give what you need.
Following this story Jesus then spoke these words to his disciples:
"So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Luke 11:1-13
Prayer can be an adventure of a sort. In prayer we are not only asking, but searching and knocking in order to get what we desire. Have you ever looked at prayer as being a journey? Maybe it is in the very act of praying that some new insight will come to you. Jesus' words here are an invitation for us not to be hesitant about bringing our requests before God. If we are persistent, God can be persuaded to grant what we desire.
I would hope that in your preparation for this Sunday, you would seek to reflect on what you have been praying for and how often you do pray for what you want. May God's blessing be upon your reflection and worship this Sunday.
Pastor Marty
As we look at the Gospel reading for this Sunday (Luke 11:1-13), we notice how Jesus wanted to emphasize the fact that we can and ought to be persistent if we really want something! After giving his disciples a model prayer (what we refer today as The Lord's Prayer), he told a story. What if you needed some extra food because company is coming. You would go to your neighbor and ask. It is your persistence that motivates your neighbor to respond and give what you need.
Following this story Jesus then spoke these words to his disciples:
"So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Luke 11:1-13
Prayer can be an adventure of a sort. In prayer we are not only asking, but searching and knocking in order to get what we desire. Have you ever looked at prayer as being a journey? Maybe it is in the very act of praying that some new insight will come to you. Jesus' words here are an invitation for us not to be hesitant about bringing our requests before God. If we are persistent, God can be persuaded to grant what we desire.
I would hope that in your preparation for this Sunday, you would seek to reflect on what you have been praying for and how often you do pray for what you want. May God's blessing be upon your reflection and worship this Sunday.
Pastor Marty
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