Jesus are you listening? (Luke 11)

Have you ever asked boldly for anything?

We have many conversations in our home with our daughter about how to ask for things. She is very good at demanding things. She is not so good at asking for things. Some days she uses please and thank you as a natural part of who she is and some times we seem to need to remind her at every turn along the way. One thing is sure however our little girl is not shy to tell us what she wants. She is not timid, she is very bold.

I think it is interesting the disciples of Jesus ask him to teach them how to pray after they have observed him praying. There must have been something inspiring about the way the son communicated with his Father. So they ask him to teach them how to pray and he does. He teaches them the famous Lords prayer. Many of us have memorized this set of several lines. Jesus, however, doesn’t stop teaching about prayer when he finishes the prayer.

He continues with a story in Luke chap 11. He tells the story of a man going to his neighbor in the middle of the night to ask for some bread to serve the guests he has arriving the next day. These guests are last minute surprises and he needs food for them. The man in the house says go away I am already in bed the door is locked I’m not coming out. Then Jesus says something interesting. It is not the friendship between the two that brings the man to the door with the food in the end, but the boldness of the request.

He goes on then to say the words many of us have memorized. Knock and is will be opened to you, seek and you will find, ask and it will be given to you. For those who seek find and those who ask receive and those who knock it will be opened unto you… If you who are evil know to give good gifts how much more so will your father and in heaven give you the holy spirit when you ask him.

This teaching is hard for me to swallow. How many things have I asked for and not received them? How many times have I asked for clarity and still feel like I am in the dark? Jesus how can you make these promises? Then I step back for a moment, take a deep breath, and refocus.

Jesus has answered many of my prayers and he has provided for my family and I. We have been lead into the decisions of our lives each time by his leading. What we are taught to ask boldly for here is the Holy Spirit.

So today I do. Father give me your Holy Spirit to guide me in today, the decisions I make, the conversations I have, how I care for my family, those around me, and even myself. Wash away my worry and fear, come oh comforter come.

Thank you Father, Amen.