Day 308: Is prayer a struggle? - Luke 11 vs 1 -13

1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.’ 2 He said to them, ‘When you pray, say: ‘“Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.”’

5-6 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.” 7 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.” 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.

9-10 ‘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. 11-12 ‘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?  13 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 New International Version

I'm sad to say that I'm among those who find praying difficult. That shouldn't be the case in light of what we read in these verses. What did Jesus invite those who love Him to call God as we come to Him in prayer? (vs 2)

What a lovely invitation that is. It carries with it the respect that fathers should have, but also a familiarity that should take away fear. (For those who may have dreadful memories of an earthly father – don't let that keep you back from embracing your heavenly Father!) But we see too that the right order of our prayers should be God's glory first, then our needs. And it is needs not greed's that we ask for. We ask for 'daily bread', not money enough to eat steak the rest of the year. (vs 3) Verse 4 reminds us that we have spiritual needs as well as physical needs. We stand daily in need of forgiveness. (Do we realize that?) And if we are those who ask for mercy, we must be those who show mercy.

But it's the illustration Jesus gave following this short pattern for prayer that ought to encourage us to pray. Here was someone with unexpected circumstances needing urgent help. (vs 5-6) How would they have felt with the initial response they got? (vs 8)

One can picture the person inside shouting 'go away, I'm in bed' and pulling the pillow over their ears. The one seeking help would've been discouraged and might easily have turned away in deep disappointment. But the story suggests they didn't give up but shamelessly banged on the door (perhaps awaking the neighbours) until their friend got up and helped them out. Does that imply Jesus meant God is reluctant to answer our prayers? (vs 9-10)

Absolutely not, and vs 13 shows that. I would say that Jesus was teaching them that what is most needed in prayer is perseverance. God will never be inconvenienced by our coming to Him. And we mustn't let what looks like a long delay in His answer to our prayer cause us to give up. To ask, seek and knock implies persistence. And those who persist, believing in the goodness of their heavenly Father, will receive what they need, find ways through circumstances they face, and have doors of opportunity opened. I think such things are included in Jesus' promise. And I don't think His encouragement was only meant for the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came to the Church. We need the Holy Spirit's presence and guidance every day. “Glory to God, who is able to do far beyond all that we could ask or imagine by his power at work within us.” (Ephesians 3:20)