Luke 11:5 -10 – Be bold to ask

The wide expanse of prayer is simply too much for one’s mind to explore. Its mystery cannot be explained yet we know its potency. Prayer is God's loving gift to us. The Lord had already established how loving our heavenly Father is. He has shown how good and willing He is to answer our prayer. In our illogical thinking, some have concluded that He sometimes doesn't want to answer.  Furthermore, pride, ignorance, and such can lead people to think of the silliest things when it comes to prayer. A few examples are: I have already made too many requests. What I am asking is too small for Him to be interested in. Or why do I want to bother God for every little thing?

So Jesus included a parable in Luke 11:5-10 that debunks these thoughts and affirms God's willingness to answer prayers. One of the characters in this parable is a reluctant neighbor. Jesus told this story to show us that God is unlike that reluctant neighbor. God is unlike that neighbor in that He is ever so willing to meet the needs of our lives. The reluctant neighbor needed to be cajoled into meeting a simple request. Whereas God will never be troubled by our request, no matter how big or small, or how many times we approach Him. The issue is never about God's willingness. The question here is about our willingness to come boldly. Do we dare to boldly and unashamedly approach Him with our needs?

 

Though that man in the parable knew it was late, and it was already midnight, yet he came asking the reluctant neighbor. Though he knew that his neighbor and his family would already be sound asleep, yet he approached him gutsily. He must have known that it would be inconvenient for the neighbor to get up to meet his request, yet he persisted till he arose to meet his request. Here's the point: If a reluctant neighbor could be pressed into meeting a small request, how much more will the loving Father answer His children's prayer, be it great or small.

So Jesus challenges us to ask, and keep on asking, because we shall be given the answer; to seek and keep seeking, for we shall surely find what we are seeking for; and to knock and keep on knocking, for the door will definitely be opened. To emphasize His point, Jesus said, "For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened." There are three factors to keep in mind when the answer is delayed. It's the delight, dependence or development factor. God wants us to learn to delight in Him. And He wants us to learn to depend on Him. He also wants us to be developed in Him. So keep delighting and depending and developing in Him. So keep asking, keep seeking and keep knocking and don't lose heart. 

Remember, build a deep relationship with God through constant fellowship with Him in prayers! Know that He is not reluctant to meet our needs. He is waiting for us to ask boldly. So enter into our privilege, and boldly approach the loving Father. Not to do it is sheer foolishness. Let's arise! Seize the moment!