Years ago I heard a message that had a profound
impact on my life. The man who spoke was
one of my mentors, a great man named Herb Hodges. The message was built off of these verses:
Luke 11:5-10
NLT
Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this story:
“Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three
loaves of bread. You say to him, 6 ‘A
friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to
eat.’ 7 And suppose he
calls out from his bedroom, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is locked for the night,
and my family and I are all in bed. I can’t help you.’ 8 But I tell you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s
sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever
you need because of your shameless persistence. 9 “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive
what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the
door will be opened to you. 10 For
everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who
knocks, the door will be opened.
The story is
one that teaches us about being people of prayer. Connect with God. Pray often and for reason.
It spoke of a
man who had a late night visitor. He
didn’t have enough food to feed this visitor.
That is when he went to beg the neighbor for some bread.
Maybe you have
been woken at night. You were upset and
responded in a way and tone that wasn’t positive or kind. Your late night visitor had a need and a
plan.
God says keep
on asking. But ask with a plan. That plan goes well when we are doing what we
do to serve others. The visitor wasn’t
asking for food for himself. His request
was for someone else.
Jesus taught
us the same. Focus on God and serve
others. That’s a great plan.
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