Author: Bill Hall

Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?

Luke 11:12

Sometimes we don’t get what we ask for. And that’s because we don’t always ask for things we really need. But, our requests are heard. God doesn’t rain judgement on our heads for even daring to ask Him for something.

He could. He has made everything just like it is. He could just tell us to shut up and be happy. But that isn’t Who He is. He wants us to ask.

Heavenly Father, thank You for listening! It is so easy for us to forget how much listening You do. We have a hard time listening, but You do it 24/7. Thank You! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish?

Luke 11:11

Jesus provides an even simpler example here. A good father loves his child and will care for that child’s needs. The child’s request will be fulfilled with all the care and tenderness the father can give.

Heavenly Father, thank You for making it clear that You care about us. You keep our welfare in mind and want what is best for us. You are awesome! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Luke 11:10

The key that Jesus is getting at here is that we need to want this thing we are after. Oh, often we claim to want things. And we really convince ourselves that we do. But we never get them because we won’t ask and ask, and seek and seek, and knock and knock. So, we want it, but we don’t want it enough.

I learned early on this simple truth from Scripture. If you want God in your life, you have to pursue Him. If you desire His blessing, you need to ask for it earnestly. If you want to be used by His mighty hand, you must make yourself available.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the truth of Your Word. Thank You for not lying to us. You are the most precious possession. If we have all of You, we need nothing else. Thank You for pushing us to desire You and Your will. What a mercy! What a grace! What a joy! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

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.

Luke 11:9

We know we can ask God for things. But, how often do we ask Him really specific questions? Do we seek Him earnestly? When we want access to His truth and knowledge, do we keep knocking?

Heavenly Father, thank You for access to You! Knowing You and being able to speak with You is so wonderful! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

I tell you, even though he won’t get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his friend’s shameless boldness, he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

Luke 11:8

This midnight request will be fulfilled because of human nature. There are some requests that we have no desire to respond to. But, the audacity of the request causes us to want to fulfill it to save face later.

Everyone understands why a person would not want to be disturbed in the middle of the night. But most people would expect this desparate cry for help to get a favorable response.

Heavenly Father, thank You for listening even when we are unreasonable. You are kind and loving. Thank You! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Then he will answer from inside and say, ‘Don’t bother me! The door is already locked, and my children and I have gone to bed. I can’t get up to give you anything.’

Luke 11:7

Well, yeah, that’s the response we expected! I’ve buttoned up the house, the kids are finally asleep, and I don’t want to be disturbed. Sounds just like any average father.

The Greek here indicates that this guy doesn’t even get out of bed to answer. Keep in mind that back then the one to two room house was more common than nowadays.

Heavenly Father, You are righteous, You are just, and You are pure! How much in our lives could be different if we would depend upon You more? I know You are not silent. I will live to find the knowledge of You. I love You. In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him;

Luke 11:6

A happenstance had occurred. An unexpected guest arrived, and nothing had been prepared. In the customs of the day it would be rude not to be prepared for the visit. So, this man decides to inconvenience one of his other friends to keep up appearances.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your provision for us. You are never surprised by our needs. You already know everything that will ever befall us. You are the Great Light in our darkness. In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

He also said to them, ‘Suppose one of you has a friend and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,

Luke 11:5

This illustration is actually pretty funny. I can only imagine my own reaction if an acquaintance was knocking on my door at midnight! Jesus was obviously attempting to get His hearers to listen with this one.

Heavenly Father, You are the God of the unexpected! You do things in our lives we never would have guessed. Thank You for being so original. It spices our lives, and challenges our hearts. We will live to serve You! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

And forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves also forgive everyone
in debt to us.
And do not bring us into temptation.

Luke 11:4

This is a loaded verse. First, we need to understand what it does not mean. And then, we need to understand what it does mean.

Jesus is not saying that we are to never recognize or condemn the sins of others. Sins can be very serious, and they have consequences. And, the sins of others in general are not in view here. Also, Jesus is not saying that God tempts us.

So, what is Jesus saying here? First, He is telling us that we can ask God for forgiveness for our sins, with the proviso that we will do the same for others. In other words, if in your judgement someone else has sinned against you, you must freely forgive that individual. This is important because it means if we design our own standard for people to meet, we can’t hold them to that standard without risking our own forgiveness.

Second, Jesus is telling us we should ask God to keep us from being tempted. Now, temptation is not sin. You can be tempted without sinning. But, if exposed to temptation, the likelihood that you will succumb is very high. Often we ask God to help us resist temptation. Jesus tells us to ask God to help us avoid temptation.

Heavenly Father, You are Holy, Holy, Holy! Before all else there was You. All of eternity cannot hold You. Above and beyond all and forever You are the Amazing Creator, the Wonderful Ruler, and the Awesome God. I will praise You with my words, and try to do so with my life. You are worthy! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Give us each day our daily bread.

Luke 11:3

Give us exactly what we need exactly when we need it, no more, no less. Whatever God knows is necessary for today we are to ask Him for. And we are not to expect tomorrow’s bread today.

This is a very Old Testament wilderness type way of thinking. Don’t look for manna for tomorrow. Gather only what is needed today. This is an attitude of complete and total dependence upon God.

So, we can indeed ask God to supply all of our needs. But, only what He determines we need. And only for today. How different this is from what we usually do in prayer!

Heavenly Father, You are the Holy One, rule over all forever and ever! Today I trust You to lead and guide me in the works of this day. I praise You for Your wisdom! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.