LUKE 11:9-10

So I say unto you; ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

TO PONDER:

Bold [a person, idea or plan] is described as showing a willingness to take risks, and be confident and courageous. In these verses, Jesus is encouraging us to be bold in our prayers, confident that God will hear and we will receive.  When the Israelites  reached the promised land with Joshua  leading them, God told him to be strong and courageous, three times in Joshua chapter 1 alone, and thirteen times altogether in the book of Joshua, and thirty three times overall in the Bible. Jesus tells the frightened  disciples “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid”. [Mark 6:50]

Got the message yet?  God certainly makes it clear that we need to look closely at how we pray,   prayers for the church and community, our cry for peace in this world,  prayers for others. Don’t  pray with the thought ‘Can this really be changed?’ but be confident knowing our God does hear our prayers and they will be answered as he sees fit. It might sound disrespectful to pray to our heavenly Father in this way, after all it’s not exactly the way we would approach our earthly dads, but God is saying it’s okay to look at how we  might seek a bolder way of praying. 

PRAYER: What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privillege to carry everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer [Lutheran Hymnal no 426]. Lord may we use this gift with boldness knowing you hear our prayers.  Amen

Today's devotion written by Maureen Macpherson, LifeWay Newcastle