I was home alone one evening when someone started knocking at my door. We have a rather unwelcoming “No Solicitation” sign posted on our door, and it was past the time for a postal delivery. And yet, the knocking persisted. Generally, I don’t answer the door when I’m home alone, but I peeked around the corner and saw that it was our friendly neighbor, looking exceptionally apologetic.
“Do you have a corkscrew we could borrow?”
We did, and I gave it to him, and sincerely told him to knock anytime.
The parable Jesus tells in today’s reading is about a persistent neighbor, only this one is knocking and knocking and knocking at midnight, after the whole house had already gone to bed. Some commentaries call this parable humorous, a quality we don’t always assign to Jesus’s words, but in this case, the story plays out a bit like a sitcom.
A man and his family are asleep in bed, when a neighbor starts knocking. Eventually, the man gets up, begrudgingly, not out of the kindness in his heart, but because of his friend’s “shameless boldness” (Luke 11:8).
The point Jesus is making is not that we should be hospitable at all costs, even dragging ourselves out of a warm bed in the middle of the night to give our neighbor some bread. He’s telling us we should approach God with the same shameless boldness of the knocking neighbor in the parable. Some translations call it the neighbor’s “impudence,” or “shameless audacity.” These are not words I typically think of when I pray.
I am learning, however, to be persistent in prayer, praying the same things over and over again—not out of disbelief, but out of belief and faith. Every night, I pray the same words over my daughters: “Please show them how much You love them. Give them hearts that love You, eyes that see You, ears that hear You.” It’s not laziness, but persistence. Over and over, I ask, seek, and knock at God’s door in prayer.
Jesus’s illustration of persistent prayer follows the Lord’s Prayer, a tangible example of how we should pray every day. His answer to the disciples’ request, “Teach us to pray,” is two-fold. First, pray for things like these. Second, pray persistently.
Yesterday, in Luke 10, we read about how Jesus came to reveal the Father. Today, He shows us how we can speak to the Father. Jesus invites us to know Him. And through Him, we’re invited to know the Father, too, to pray to Him without ceasing.
May we ask, seek, and knock with persistence and faith, knowing that God will always answer for the good of all those who love Him, and to make known the riches of His glory (Romans 8:28; 9:23).
Melanie Rainer is a bookworm from birth who makes her days writing, editing and reading in Nashville, where she also joyfully serves as the editor of Kids Read Truth. She has an M.A. in Theological Studies from Covenant Seminary, spends as much time as she can in the kitchen, and can’t wait until her two daughters are old enough to read Anne of Green Gables.
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53 thoughts on "True Blessedness"
Hey Heather! One simple prayer i do every morning and everyday, is thank God for today and for all we have. I say it out loud with my kids and my husband. You could start there or even do it alone. Whatever makes you feel more comfortable! :)
I am reading the Bible for the first time in my life. I grew-up in a church, but never considered myself a believer. I neglected my faith for so long and ignored the constant calls back. So I am now reading the gospels and searching for God, but have not yet started to pray. As someone who WANTS so badly to have faith and God in my life and the lives of my children, I know I should start, but something is holding me back. When I read about asking for the Holy Spirit and not being denied, I got goosebumps. I just don’t know how to start praying…
So many good things in Chapter 11. The parables are numerous. I have been very lazy in prayer and reading the word. Simply because I lie to myself and say I don’t have time or I’ll do it later. This whole chapter is about what a Christian should see and acknowledge with Christ vs what we see in lies from Satan himself. Each passage reminds me of who I am in Him and I honestly feel as if God is speaking to me going “Helllooooo?? Remember me. Especially now. Be responsible for your actions. Love me. See me.” Absolutely beautiful and unimaginable.
I am praying boldly for a miracle for 8 children here in our city in China who were recalled from foster care back to their orphanage due to tightening restrictions. They have all been with their foster parents for 7-8 years and have different special needs and are very confused and hurting. The Chinese New Year is upon us and and the place is understaffed. Please pray with me!!!
heather and vicki, i am keeping your husbands in my prayers as well! peace and blessings to you <3
Seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you.
It’s refreshing to know that God is willing to fulfill our prayers, with the caveat that the request must be made through consistent prayer and dialogue with him. Through prayer we show him that our eyes are opened and we are full of life. Any questions we may have through seeking His face and hearing His word He is able to lead and guide us to the answers. Let us not forget that the walk with his is daily and not a sprint to the end.
“Daily walk , not a Sprint to the end”. That’s totally true…A small step everyday.
This devotional reminds me of the one thing I haven’t been doing as persistently—praying! My husband and I have been trying to read the Bible every day (we are on a read the Bible in one year challenge) and we typically end our bible reading with prayer. We have been neglecting that part of our mornings sometimes because we didn’t give ourselves enough time to…even on days where he’s off! I feel like my husband sometimes gets lost in our readings.
I do my own personal devotionals aside from the reading I’m doing with my husband—this being one of them. Mornings before my husband wakes up, I spend this time with Christ in one of my devotionals. Starting my day with Christ always makes me feel better. I do notice I’m in a much better mood when I pray in the mornings too.
I definitely need to be taking more time from my day to pray even more than ever. Pray without ceasing and know that by doing so, my relationship with Christ will be strengthened.
Such a good reminder for me to keep on praying no matter what
RH, I visit HRT daily also. I love the writing style and messages. I need all the guidance I can get.
Angie, I cannot reply to your post, but I will remember your wordings when praying for outcomes! Thank you for sharing
What an important message for all of us, to pray without ceasing, especially for our loved ones who don’t yet know God. S S, I join with you in your prayers for your husband as my husband hasn’t accepted Christ yet either…I have prayed for this for 13 years now. But even though the answer so far is “not yet”, knowing God wants him to accept his Son as Lord even more than I do gives me comfort. So thankful we have a Father who never tires of us asking! Hang in there, my sister in Christ!
Seek God! He wants us to seek Him. He wants us to ask Him. He wants us to rest in Him. He rejoices over us. He delights to give good gifts to His children. “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)
Not only do we ask, seek, knock, but we also need to listen. He does speak to us!
we are so blessed that god not only desires but encourages our prayers. my constant prayer as of late has been that my S/O will come to faith, that his heart will be open and pulled towards jesus and truth.
S S, i have been praying with you for your husband as well, that he and my S/O both will soften their hearts and come to know god, and that god will grant us patience and faith in his perfect timing. i’m here for you!
if anyone else would keep my S/O in your prayers as well, it would be so much appreciated. blessings to you all <3
Valerie thank you for your prayers and I will absolutely be keeping you and your S/O in my own prayers! Clinging fast to the promises that God has in store for us
Praying for both of you and so encouraged by your own faith and holy desires in wanting Jesus for the ones you love most. Our Lord loves them more than you do, and desires salvation, holiness, and goodness for them. Trust Him. Trust His timing. I will remember you and your prayer requests in my own persistent prayers. Grace + Peacs
I would love for you to keep mine in yours prayers.
Praying for you.
I love the illustration about what it means to be hospitable even when it’s inconvenient. I pray that God would help me to look at the little “inconveniences” in life differently, so that instead I could see them as opportunities to display God’s abundant love to others in my life.
I was relieved to hear Melanie say about praying over and over again over the same thing not out of disbelief, but out of belief and faith. As I find myself praying the same things over and over. I will continue asking, seeking, and knocking.
Tina, your response moved me and placed a beautiful image in my mind. The understanding I gained was this: Though I stumble over my words from time to time (most of the time, honestly), may I pray with peace and confidence knowing that GOD is longing to hear from me. LONGING… Wow. I do not pray nearly as often as I should, and deep down I know it is because I am nervous that I don’t know what to say or how to ask for things from my amazing Father. Thank you for bringing this to light for me today, the Lord has called me to action in your words.
I too, pray for many of the same things each and every night. I look at the stars from my bed and feel so grateful that His will has allowed me another day earthside. I pray that those I love that don’t yet know Him will somehow be touched in their hearts, the door opening even just a tiny bit and encouraging that person to knock! Eyes to see. Ears to hear. Hearts to believe. Ask. Knock. Repeat each day .
Dear She’s,
These bible studies are so life giving and encouraging. I don’t know any of you personally, but can imagine all of us sitting together and sharing. Thank you for being honest and real.
At this time in my life I know I can come to Jesus with anything, but I wonder if I am passive about “Thy will be done”. Do I pray enough about concerns that have been laid upon my heart? God has kindly granted all of us “peace beyond all understanding”. Have I mistaken this peace for my own passivity? I will be thinking and praying about this today. Looking forward to more sharing tomorrow. Have a blessed day everyone.
I don’t deserve to even be heard be God. Yet He tells me I can not only speak to Him, but I can come boldly into His throne room and even be annoyingly persistent. Thank You, Abba Father.
As I read the Scriptures selected for us today, several thoughts come to mind. I’ve heard it said, in regards to persistent prayer, to “pray it through.” My response was “pray it through to what?“ Till I’m sure of the answer? What if I think I know but I’m not sure? And what about “pray without ceasing”? How does all this mesh? I don’t know if I’m right but I pray about a concern until I have peace about it, that I’ve left the results entirely to the Lord. If I start to feel anxious about it again, I pray until peace returns. This relates I think to what Jesus is saying in Luke 11: 9-13. I’m not always sure I’m praying, asking for, the right thing, and I’m not always trusting God will get the answer /solution right (just being honest – I foolishly think He needs my detailed explanation of all the potential scenarios to make sure He understands the whole predicament so he acts in the way I’d prefer. I know that’s not right but that’s me sometimes.Ugh). I lately though have focused on vs.13. I pray for the Spirit to take control of me so that I have His peace and can then fully release the results of my prayer request to God. I ask for more of the Spirit to be evident in my life. I ask for more of an awareness of His presence and who He is because that pushes out doubt. I ask for me to more fully surrender my will to His. I ask for His good and perfect and pleasing fruit – not the rotting fruit manufactured on my own and outside of His will.
I realize in reading this how undeniably opposite my prayer life is to what is described here. Sometimes I don’t even ask. I just think, “wouldn’t it be nice if God would show up in my life in this way or that way” not only am I less than relentless… I am flat out negligent. I think I often have an attitude of “If He wants to, He will. Who am I to tell God what to do.” What would or could happen if I pursued specific things (the things that seem to always be on my heart) with shameless boldness of asking, seeking, knocking, relentlessly. I think it’s time to stop being passive about my requests. Good thoughts today.
That’s totally me! But NOW IAM GONNA KNOCK
All three readings had something to do with what is going on in my life right now. I need to pray more, worry less. Jesus was so bold with the Pharisees, well really every one. I hope to be the friend to someone who may be knocking in the night.
Ask.Seek.Knock.Repeat
❤️
Alice, to answer your question, in my experience, if I have been wholly praying and seeking God about something, I am in a deep enough relationship that he reveals clearly whether his answer is no or if I should keep going. I think if you are at the point where you are praying fervently, you will be in tune to God’s voice. Usually No is pretty clear and if I’m not hearing No, then I keep going and praying. It’s tough though and something I still wrestle with.
❤️
Well that’s twice in 2 days I have tried to post from my phone and it magically disappears when I press post. Does this happen to anyone else?
And giving it about 5 minutes and reloading the page, I find that my posts just needed a few minutes to appear….
I simply love this message! I have never heard commentary like this on these verses and it is like a lightbulb has gone off in my brain. I need to be persistent with God about the deepest desires of my heart. Much like the audacious neighbor, I too need to knock repeatedly. Lord I am praying that my husband will know You. That he will enter into a relationship with Jesus and see Your truth. It is something that I have been praying for nearly 6 years, but never with the persistence that this story showcased. Lord, may you hear these desparate prayers, may you grant one of the deepest desires of my heart. I will keep knocking, I will keep seeking, I will keep at this until this promise is fulfilled, until the door is answered.
I am joining you in this prayer today!! Keep the faith sister!
Amen!
Thessalonians 5:17 states that we should pray without ceasing. To always have the attitude of prayer and keep the line of communication open between us and God.
Remember, from an earlier study, that when we say, Yahweh, we are speaking God’s name with or through our breathing. You must breath in to say “Yah” and exhale to say “weh.”
❤️❤️love this word picture!
Thank you for sharing this. I sat for a few minutes hand to chest saying Yahweh repeatedly and feeling the in and out. Praying we experience God’s permeating presence in everything…even our breathing.
Wow. Actually breathing Gods name is a concept I didn’t realize. Thank you for sharing this insight. I love this thought and now have a completely different reaction to the name of God as Yahweh.
I never realized that about saying Yahweh. How cool!
I love that!
We persistently prayed for my son Judah to be saved. He even started praying for it, not really understanding the full weight of his prayer. We kept adding the request to the prayer list and bringing the request before God at all hours of the day. A few months ago, the eyes of his understanding were opened, and He accepted Christ. I can’t tell you how on fire my 6 year old is! I love this passage that we should passionately Pursue God and audaciously beg of Him.
His kingdom come! His will be done on earth as it is in heaven
What a big passage! I love how Jesus invites us into relationship with God the Father through prayer. And to keep on asking in prayer! I also appreciated the commentary from He Reads Truth which talked about the response to the Woman in vs 27-28. God invites us into relationship with God through the Word also. (Aside- anyone else read the men’s commentary too? HRT has some great writers and I quite like the style they write with).
In my life, sometimes God has been bold and clear in His answers (and I must obey immediately), other times I’ve waited and prayed, prayed and waited and still I have not been positive of the path He longs for me to take. Sometimes I think He has a direct will for me, other times I believe I may have more of a choice. So how do I know what to do?
For me…I spend extra time in His Word and in prayer. I drown myself in Him hoping that the saturation will pour into me and then out of me.
The Lord’s prayer, prayed and checked in my spirit also helps me check my motives.
Our Father who is in heaven
your name be honored as holy. (Is my first priority be honor and glorify You, God?)
Your kingdom come, your will be done (Do I really want Your will and Your kingdom, if it means I don’t get what I want?)
Give us each day our daily bread (Is this about daily bread, or wanting more so I don’t have to rely daily?)
And forgive us our sins, as we also forgive everyone who sins against us (Do I recognize I am a sinner, saved by grace? Do I offer the same forgiveness to others that I would expect for myself? I know the Sunday School answer but what do the depths of my heart live?)
And do not bring us into temptation (God, if this thing that I want an answer to will bring me into temptation to do evil, to sin against You, or hurt my witness, will I walk away?)
When I’m not just saying the Sunday School answers,
when the words in my prayers penetrate with purity and selflessness,
with the motive of worshiping and honoring my Savior and my God,
then I know, that I Know, it will be okay, no matter the answer
yes…no…wait
This is a journey we are blessed to be on,
not because it is always easy,
but because HE IS ALWAYS FAITHFUL.
Thank you. Appreciate this reminder.
Mine was not a persistent knock on the door, but the ringing of the telephone at around 3am.. aside from waking me up disorientated, confused and filled with a feeling of dread, I had to run downstairs as I have no phone upstairs, and with each step down I must have gone through a hundred scenarios of who what where and how….
I answered to hear my friend say, “I know its late, but please pray…..’ as the story unfolded I knew I had no choice but to pray…
I tell you this… why?
I am no prayer warrior, in fact praying out aloud in a group, up until recently, has been a no no, yet, this friend thought me worthy to trust to pray, to join in her prayers for the Lords hand over her family’s story, she had shameless audacity through the nudging of the Spirit to called at an ungodly hour..
My friend boldly trusted that I would do what she asked, that I would intercede on her behalf, that my prayers before were persistent prayers, bold and trusting that God and I have a ‘red phone’, a direct line..
As I sat into the wee hours holding my friends family up in prayer I knew I was in the presence of my God.. I knew that we were communing, that his will was being done and that I was growing in faith as I asked, sought and knocked on the Heavenly Fathers’ door to make known the absolute riches of His glory..
Thank you Lord God for your gift of prayer and conversation with you. Thank you that we can come boldly and persistent in our prayers.. that we can, out of our belief, faith and hope in you call out over and over and over again, persistent knowing, believing and in faith that you have ‘got this’. Thank you Lord God, Thank you for everything, thank you..
Happy Tuesday dear hearts.. with hugs. Xxx
This was a beautiful testimony that even in our own awkwardness of how we pray, when our lives are lived out that others see our faith they know they can call on us to pray. Thanks for sharing
How do we know when God has said ‘No’ to our request, and when should we carry on being persistent?
There have been times when an apparent “no” has actually been him calling me into a deeper, more real, conversation and struggle with him. He wants to win back our whole hearts, and there are layers that are hidden to us: layers that don’t fully believe in his goodness, or trust his strength. He knows this, and tenderly calls us deeper, not to shame us, but to overcome every lie and replace it with the truth. which is Himself! Praying that he would tenderly draw you into deeper waters of faith & love as you continue to cry out to him! Much love to you, sister❤️
What a great question! I keep praying until I am fairly certain I have heard a big and definite “no” from God. And then I thank Him for giving me a clear message.
Oh, pray as the Lord taught us to pray persistently! Makes perfect sense now,