Luke 11a Commentary
When and how; what to say and the required posture. What are the expectations? There are several questions about prayer that this chapter answers.
The example of you going to seek help from a friend at midnight means prayer can be said any time. Never have the thought that you can possibly show up at the wrong time. In the scripture, we have prayers in the night, during the day, at noon, at 3 in the afternoon, in the morning, and many other times.
Some are short while others are very long. They are said in all sorts of places and are meant to achieve an endless list of things. Some are motivated by needs while others are born out of responses to random events. Yet others are regular and traditional thanksgiving prayers.
Firstly, our prayers are directed to our Father in Heaven. It establishes a father/son relationship. It grants a measure of freedom and guarantees the right of access. So the son or the daughter is talking to his or her father.
Before you are taken away into Carelessland, the scripture quickly reminds you of the need to revere God’s name. There are rules in this kingdom – what the worshipper should seek.
You can ask for your daily bread and seek protection from the evil in one.
In this lecture, we can pinpoint key areas of concern that the LORD wants us to focus on. These should be important.
Know who you are praying to – the Father. He is in Heaven. It should never be some inanimate object in the corner of your room or some man-made structure. Heaven.
Know God’s name is revered. Don’t mince jokes and prayer together, before or after. Sacred.
Know our daily bread comes from the LORD. Be thankful. Ask for it. Never mind the ‘how’. Just ask.
Know that forgiveness is important. Never show up in your righteous clothes. The LORD knows you are dirty and must be forgiven. Remember, others must be forgiven by you.
Know you are living among wolves. The enemy seeks not your good. The LORD wants you to ask Him to protect you, to deliver you. Probably because He knows you cannot protect yourself. Probably because He won’t protect you unless you ask. It is a position of surrender and faith in the one and only true God.
You would think of it this way. “I want to protect you, but please ask me. Just ask me.” The LORD has come to His own and let His own receive Him. Let them not reject Him.
“Ask and it will be given to you.” The English language fails here. The word ‘ask’ comes out rude and even suggests a general question environment. The word ‘request’ comes close. Regardless, the word ‘ask’ connects to needs. The word ‘seek’ connects to ambitions, aspirations, and hopes. The word ‘knock’ connects to accommodation or acceptance. Prayer brings in all these aspects.
The faithfulness of the LORD is such that He won’t give you a snake when you have asked for a fish. The love of the LORD is such that He won’t give you a snake even if you ask for it. Ponder.
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