Luke 11:5-13
5 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, 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him; 7 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? 8 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. 9 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. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 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!
If you want to be healed, you have to ask for it, you have to seek for it, you have to persevere. In this passage Jesus says that a man will help someone just because of their persistence or boldness (verse 8). Jesus goes on to say: "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!" (verse 13). This doesn't mean that God is a vending machine in the sky, but if we earnestly seek Him for a good gift (as opposed to a selfish want), He will help us. But this means more than just a lazy "help me" prayer. It requires commitment and persistence. When we fall, it can be tempting to give up and think that we will never be pure. This is where we need persistence, and where we need to trust that we have a loving Father who wants to help us.
Heavenly Father, help me to earnestly desire Your good gifts.
5 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, 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him; 7 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? 8 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. 9 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. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 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!
If you want to be healed, you have to ask for it, you have to seek for it, you have to persevere. In this passage Jesus says that a man will help someone just because of their persistence or boldness (verse 8). Jesus goes on to say: "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!" (verse 13). This doesn't mean that God is a vending machine in the sky, but if we earnestly seek Him for a good gift (as opposed to a selfish want), He will help us. But this means more than just a lazy "help me" prayer. It requires commitment and persistence. When we fall, it can be tempting to give up and think that we will never be pure. This is where we need persistence, and where we need to trust that we have a loving Father who wants to help us.
Heavenly Father, help me to earnestly desire Your good gifts.