Brenda Henry invites us to listen in and pray today…
When the disciples ask Jesus how to pray, He answers with words that likely sound familiar to most. We may have heard or prayed the Lord’s prayer from a young age, and we recall His encouragement to “keep on” asking, seeking, knocking. As we contemplate these verses afresh, we can open our posture to new invitations. What might they be? What mutual wanting with God might we find? How might He be knocking on the door of our heart? Whatever we may notice and respond to, we can trust that He honors our persistence to “keep on” asking, noticing, knocking, hoping, trusting, loving, and leaning toward and in Him.
Luke 11:1-13 (ESV)
Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” And he said to them, “When you pray, say:
“Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.”
And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
For Reflection and Prayer:
As you listened, did you notice a word, a phrase, or an image that seemed to shimmer for you? Hold this gently in your heart, allowing it to settle deeply.
If the passage elicited any particular feeling/s, hold this lightly and consider journaling your reflection on this.
If you feel a prayer rising forth from your experience with our Lord, consider writing it down, and then simply rest quietly with Him.
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