MEDITATIONS FROM THE PARABLES OF JESUS
THE
FRIEND AT
Read Luke 11:5-13
How should we come to God in prayer? Jesus here uses two parables or illustrations to teach us the answer to this question. First of all, we are to be persistent in our prayers and not give up if we do not immediately see God's answer. If a man can get what he requests of a friend at midnight because he continues to ask, seek and knock, certainly we will receive answers to our prayers from our heavenly Father when we continue to come before Him with our requests; for He is not bothered by our prayers but wants us to pray to Him "in every trouble" and "without ceasing." Jesus says: "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you" (Luke 11:9).
Secondly, we should pray in full confidence that our loving Father in heaven will give us those good and needful things for which we ask. Sinful human fathers give good gifts to their sons and do not substitute evil and harmful things for those good gifts which their sons request. Since children can ask their earthly fathers for good things and be confident that their fathers will give them those good things for which they ask, how much more should we expect our sinless, heavenly Father to give us those good things which we request of Him in prayer! He will give the Holy Spirit, together with all the blessings which the Spirit imparts, to all who ask of Him.
When thus my heart in prayer ascendeth, through Thine own Spirit, unto Thee, Thy heart, O Father, kindly bendeth its fervent love and favor unto me, rejoicing my petition to fulfill which I have made according to Thy will. Amen. (TLH, Hymn #21, Verse 5)