Word@Work Luke179 - Luke 11:5-8
Published: Mon, 08/30/10
Word@Work from BeaconLight
PRAYING BOLDLY
Luke 11:5-8 Then he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.' "Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs. (NIV)
Many people feel unworthy to pray; they would prefer 'professionals' to pray for them. Others feel incompetent in prayer: why should God respond to their clumsy requests? Still others feel that as earlier prayer seems to have been unanswered, there is no point in persisting. The same was true in Jesus' day. So, after He had given the disciples a pattern-prayer (which we know as the Lord's Prayer) He told this story to give them an idea of the dynamic in prayer. Basically put, God does not hear us because we are morally perfect, socialy skilled and ticking all the right spiritual boxes - He hears those who are desperate enough to know that only His answer will meet the need and save the day.
Perhaps some of our attitudes to prayer have also been shaped by our own formalised religion which demands the professionalism of prayer that Jesus was speaking against; or keep us shrinking away from His light as we sense our own unworthiness. Yet it seems strange to us that some people who have none of those inhibitions, and who apparently have fewer spiritual 'qualifications' than us, can dare to approach God and find Him only too willing to respond. They are the desperate ones, who know that He is their only hope; and if He cannot or will not answer, then they have no future. They are casting everything onto Him.
Boldness is the result of confident single mindedness. To pray with boldness requires a conviction that God is willing to be approached, and that only He can deal with the matter. All other possible solutions become irrelevant as the fire of faith burns into prayer. Alas, our diversion-ridden world wants to allow space for every possibility; but the man or woman of faith knows that the matter will only be settled by the Lord of all. Today is a good day to review your prayer life; ask the question, "Am I really desperate to see God's answer, and am I confident that He has the power to do the right thing at the right time?"
Prayer: Sovereign Lord. Thank You for being willing to hear all those who come to You in repentance and faith. I repent of my shallowness in prayer, my reluctance to place everything at Your feet and my weariness in praying until You respond. Please forgive me for being easily diverted from prayer; for assuming that I can fix my own problems or demanding that others must come to meet my need. Please give me a fresh desperation of heart that will only be satisfied when You extend Your arm and when You speak into those issues which concern me. May I develop a fresh boldness based on my confidence of Your loving desire to show Your compassion, grace and mercy to all those You have called to yourself. Thank You for the boldness of Christ in being willing to die for me; may I be bold to live and pray so that You will have the glory. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
Many people feel unworthy to pray; they would prefer 'professionals' to pray for them. Others feel incompetent in prayer: why should God respond to their clumsy requests? Still others feel that as earlier prayer seems to have been unanswered, there is no point in persisting. The same was true in Jesus' day. So, after He had given the disciples a pattern-prayer (which we know as the Lord's Prayer) He told this story to give them an idea of the dynamic in prayer. Basically put, God does not hear us because we are morally perfect, socialy skilled and ticking all the right spiritual boxes - He hears those who are desperate enough to know that only His answer will meet the need and save the day.
Perhaps some of our attitudes to prayer have also been shaped by our own formalised religion which demands the professionalism of prayer that Jesus was speaking against; or keep us shrinking away from His light as we sense our own unworthiness. Yet it seems strange to us that some people who have none of those inhibitions, and who apparently have fewer spiritual 'qualifications' than us, can dare to approach God and find Him only too willing to respond. They are the desperate ones, who know that He is their only hope; and if He cannot or will not answer, then they have no future. They are casting everything onto Him.
Boldness is the result of confident single mindedness. To pray with boldness requires a conviction that God is willing to be approached, and that only He can deal with the matter. All other possible solutions become irrelevant as the fire of faith burns into prayer. Alas, our diversion-ridden world wants to allow space for every possibility; but the man or woman of faith knows that the matter will only be settled by the Lord of all. Today is a good day to review your prayer life; ask the question, "Am I really desperate to see God's answer, and am I confident that He has the power to do the right thing at the right time?"
Prayer: Sovereign Lord. Thank You for being willing to hear all those who come to You in repentance and faith. I repent of my shallowness in prayer, my reluctance to place everything at Your feet and my weariness in praying until You respond. Please forgive me for being easily diverted from prayer; for assuming that I can fix my own problems or demanding that others must come to meet my need. Please give me a fresh desperation of heart that will only be satisfied when You extend Your arm and when You speak into those issues which concern me. May I develop a fresh boldness based on my confidence of Your loving desire to show Your compassion, grace and mercy to all those You have called to yourself. Thank You for the boldness of Christ in being willing to die for me; may I be bold to live and pray so that You will have the glory. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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