Day 42 — Ask, Seek, Knock

Day 42 · Drawing Near in Prayer · Luke 11:5-13 (NET2)

Jesus encourages his disciples to keep coming to the Father. The midnight request and the comparison with human parents point to God’s generous character. Persistence does not wear down a reluctant God or guarantee our preferred answer. We ask because he is good. Jesus especially names the Holy Spirit, directing us toward the Father’s provision for a life of fellowship and obedience.

Request

Father, strengthen my confidence in your goodness as I bring my needs to you. Amen.

Read

Luke 11:5-13

⁵ Then 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, ⁶ because a friend of mine has stopped here while on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him.’ ⁷ Then he will reply from inside, ‘Do not bother me. The door is already shut, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything.’ ⁸ I tell you, even though the man inside will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of the first man’s sheer persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.

⁹ “So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. ¹¹ What father among you, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? ¹² Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ¹³ If you then, although you 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!”

Scripture: NET Bible, Second Edition (NET2).

Reflect

1. What do the comparisons teach about the Father’s generosity?
2. Where have you stopped asking because you assume God is reluctant to hear you?

Restate

Describe persistent prayer as trust in the Father rather than pressure upon him.

Respond

Let the passage guide your prayer. Use these prompts in your own words:

• Praise: Praise God for being a good Father.
• Thanksgiving: Thank him for the gift and help of his Spirit.
• Confession: Confess suspicious or self-reliant attitudes toward prayer.
• Intercession: Pray for someone discouraged by waiting.
• Petition: Ask for the Spirit’s help in a specific need.

Carry it into today: Return to one ongoing concern in prayer, entrusting the answer to your Father.