Luke 11:1-13, explores the topic of praying with confidence. Jesus teaches his
disciples how to pray, sharing the Lord’s Prayer, and uses two parables to
illustrate the character of God.
The Two Parables:
- The parable of the friend at midnight (Luke 11:5-8) shows that God is not
like the grumpy neighbour who needs to be persuaded, but rather a loving
Father who wants to bless us. - The parable of the father and his children (Luke 11:11-13) illustrates that
God is a good Father who gives good gifts to those who ask Him.
Key Points we can take from this section of Scripture:
- God is a loving Father who wants a relationship with us, not just our requests
(Luke 11:2, “Father, hallowed be your name…”) - Persistence in prayer is not about convincing God to care, but about building
our faith and trust in Him (Luke 11:9-10, “Ask and it will be given to you…”) - God’s timing is perfect, even when we don’t see answers immediately
(1 Thessalonians 5:17, prompts us to “Pray without ceasing”). - God gives good gifts, sometimes better than what we ask for (Luke 11:13, “How
much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask
him!”)
Key Verses: - “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) - “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask
him!” (Luke 11:13) - “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
Application:
Let’s approach God with confidence, sharing our hearts, needs, and struggles,
and trusting that He is always available and good. Cultivate a habit of
communion with God, praying without ceasing, and trusting in His perfect
timing and goodness.