Daily Inspiration

“Jesus said to his disciples: “Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey and I have nothing to offer him,’ and he says in reply from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked and my children and I are already in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.’ I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence. “And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?” —Luke 11:5-13

The Father answers every prayer. He gives either a ‘Yes’, a ‘No’, or a ‘Not yet.’ While the yeses are easy to see, it is hard to tell the difference between a no and a not yet. If it seems the Lord is not answering your prayers, perhaps it is you, not Him.  

Many confuse this passage, believing that Jesus said the Father will give whatever you ask of Him, because we gloss over the last sentence. Jesus tells us the Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask. Remain persistent in prayer, but trust that the Father knows your needs. He sees beyond our sight, and knows beyond our knowledge. In that light, I pray to the Lord every day for each of you. It is a simple prayer, and it is the same prayer I offer for myself and my family.

Father, I pray for (my, my wife’s, son’s, daughter’s, friend’s) needs, as only You know them. I pray that You will give them the blessings You know they need, and that they will reach out and grab hold of those blessings, and draw closer to You, through the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen

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