Focus

As you quiet yourself for this brief time, be willing to be open to God, however that may take place.

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Read

Luke 11:1-13 (NRSV)

He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say:

Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.
And do not bring us to the time of trial.”

And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ’Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.’ And he answers from within, ’Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.

“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!”

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Reflect

Asking for something good should be pretty easy. Children do it. They ask for a snack, a puppy, and help with their homework all in the space of a few minutes. Asking seems natural for the young. However, adults find it a little more difficult. We hesitate to ask for directions, opinions, forgiveness, or divine guidance.

Jesus must have known the disciples would have a hard time with this concept. In the prayer we call the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus tells us to ask for some pretty important things. We are to ask for food, forgiveness, and divine guidance. The lesson doesn’t stop with the prayer. Jesus goes on to tell a story and then urges us again to ask, seek, and knock.

Why don’t we? Maybe we tell ourselves that God already knows what we need; maybe we don’t think it will do any good; or maybe, sometimes we are too proud. I think perhaps our greatest fear is that we have to admit how much we need. Perhaps that is why Jesus made such a point of teaching us to ask. Because he knows how much we really need.

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Pray

Lord, show me how to be more like a child. Help me to be honest enough to admit I need you. Give me the courage to ask and the faith to believe you will answer. In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Go with God.