Luke 11:1-13 (NRSV)
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Chapter 11He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." Verse 2He said to them, "When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Verse 3Give us each day our daily bread. Verse 4And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial." Verse 5And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; Verse 6for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.' Verse 7And he answers from within, 'Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.' Verse 8I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs. Verse 9"So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. Verse 10For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Verse 11Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Verse 12Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? Verse 13If 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!"
Devotion
The best definition of prayer I ever heard was that prayer is "turning ourselves God-ward." Prayer is not simply an essay or petition, but our whole being turning towards God. When we do that, we surrender our own authority. This also means we assume we find God in whatever answer to our prayer may come. We pray for health and long life, and we presume God is present in our sickness and dying. We pray for peace and believe God is present in conflict and discord. We pray for the needs of life and believe God is present among the poor. In fact, there are many hints in scripture that we can expect to find God closest to us when we immerse ourselves in the needs of the neighbor—among the poor and sick and widows and orphans and victims of gun violence and those dying of AIDS and Zika viruses.
Prayer
O God, you invite us to bring our prayers to you, and promise to answer. Help us elevate our prayers beyond personal wish lists, in order that we might seek your presence in all things that come our way today. Amen.