August 3 | Luke 11:4-13

Dave Mann
Aug 3
3 min read

DAILY READING

Luke 11:4-13

REFLECTION

A Lesson in Prayer

By Dave Mann

Today’s text is a four-part training manual for an effective prayer-life.

Part 1 – Forgiveness (Luke 11:4)

Prayer should begin with forgiveness, both for our own sins and for others who have sinned against us. If we want to receive what we need in prayer, we should be willing to conform our attitude and behavior to that of our loving and generous heavenly Father. Our willingness to forgive others will be the norm that God will use to grant us forgiveness.

Colossians 3:13 – Bear with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

Part 2 – Confidence (Luke 11:5-8)

Jesus provides us with a human example for prayer. We know how to be persistent with a human friend. Even though he is our friend, there are limits to what he will do based on friendship. We would not go to our friend at midnight to ask a favor. Right? However, we know how to stretch the limits of our friendship in order to get what we need. Our human friend is not nearly as loving and generous as our loving heavenly Father. So, let’s be confident that God is willing to grant our requests.

Romans 4:21— Abraham was fully convinced that God had power to do what he had promised.

Hebrews 4:16 – Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Part 3 – Persistence (Luke 11:9-10)

Keep on asking. Keep on seeking. Keep on knocking. Something happens when we pray and pray and pray again. It is not that we are changing God’s mind in the matter. It is rather that we are being changed as we keep on praying. In prayer, we are drawing near to God. We cannot but be changed as we keep on entering into the presence of God.

Ephesians 3:20-21 -- Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Part 4 – God gives good gifts (Luke 11:11-13).

We know that our good and loving Father will not be stingy in giving his children good things. Even if we ask for something that is less than the good and perfect gift that God desires for us, he will give us the best.

James 1:17 -- Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, I pray for a heart that desires to enter into your presence to ask for what I need. Help me to pray in a manner that seeks not only your good and perfect gifts, but also seeks to know your heart, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DAVE MANN

I am a Pastor for Internationals (retired) in the UALC community. I am married to Pam, father of four, and grandfather of seven. Pam and I have lived twenty of our years in other countries including France, Cameroon, Haiti, and Morocco. In retirement, we continue to enjoy writing devotionals, learning languages, and teaching English to internationals.