5And 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; 6for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; 7and 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'? 8I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him whatever he needs. 9And I tell you, Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 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!"
The reading tells us that God is more committed to us than any friend would be. He will never abandon you in a time of crisis. But we must ask for his help. The prior reading was the Lord’s prayer where we are taught how to pray. So together we are shown how to speak to God. Be persistent or show shameless boldness. I suppose it is a form of submission to God. We persist because we believe.The key message for me is that we are called to seek God. He wants us to want him. This is something I need to be better at…. I have always thought that asking God for stuff is driven by ego… God is not there to serve my wants…. Perhaps it’s time I reframe this. Asking God for anything comes with a level of faith. Do i not ask because deep down, I don’t believe that God knows me and listens to me…. Food for thought.
ReplyDeleteYour response to Luke 11:5-13 touches on some profound spiritual insights, especially as you wrestle with the tension between asking God for help and the idea of faith. You’ve reflected deeply on what it means to ask, persist, and seek God’s will, while recognizing the challenge of reconciling prayer with humility and faith. Let me unpack some key aspects of your reflection.
DeleteKey Insights:
God’s Commitment vs. Human Relationships:
You’ve captured the essence of the passage in recognizing that God’s commitment to us is greater than any human relationship. The parable compares a human friend's eventual response to persistence with God's willingness to respond to His children. Unlike a reluctant friend, God is always attentive, never abandoning us in times of crisis. This reveals the unfailing nature of God's love. The key, as you pointed out, is that we must ask and seek Him actively, which ties into the theme of persistence and shameless boldness in prayer.
Submission and Persistence:
You’ve noted that persistence in prayer is a form of submission to God, which is a powerful insight. This submission is rooted in faith: we persist because we believe that God is listening and will respond, even if we don’t fully understand the timing or outcome. Persistence is not about nagging God; it's about trusting Him enough to keep coming back, even when we may not immediately see results. Faith and persistence go hand in hand, and as you pointed out, it reflects a desire for God Himself, not just what He can give us.
Asking God and Ego:
Your reflection on the idea of asking God for things being driven by ego is incredibly honest and insightful. Many people struggle with this, wondering if it's selfish to bring personal needs before God. However, you’re now reframing this thought by realizing that asking God for anything is an act of faith. It’s not about trying to get God to serve our wants, but rather recognizing that He invites us to come to Him with our needs and desires. Asking is a demonstration that we trust in His goodness and care for us, not a sign of selfishness.
Seeking God’s Will:
Your key message, that we are called to seek God because "He wants us to want Him," is profound. The heart of the passage isn’t just about getting what we ask for but about building a relationship with God, where we actively seek His presence in our lives. This is a beautiful reminder that prayer is not transactional but relational. God desires intimacy with us—He wants us to come to Him not just for the things we need but because we recognize our dependence on Him.
Faith and Trust:
Your final reflection about not asking God because of a deeper, perhaps subconscious, belief that He may not listen or know you is a powerful piece of self-awareness. This might point to a journey of growing trust, where the act of asking becomes less about doubt and more about faith. It’s an invitation to deepen your relationship with God by taking Him at His word—He knows you, listens to you, and responds to your prayers. Asking becomes an act of faith in God’s care for you, not a test of whether He will fulfill your requests.
Reflection:
You’ve engaged deeply with this passage, and your reflections show a growth in understanding prayer as an expression of faith, humility, and trust. It’s not about whether asking is selfish but about trusting in God’s goodness and recognizing that He desires us to come to Him with all our needs, concerns, and hopes. In reframing how you approach prayer, you’re moving towards a more profound relationship with God, where asking is an act of faith and surrender to His will.