URC Daily Devotion Friday 31 January 2025

And 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;  for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.”  And 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.”  I 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. 

‘So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.  For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 

Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion?  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!’

Reflection

I don’t think I have ever met a Christian who is completely happy with their prayer life.  Most people (including me) feel that we should pray more often, in a more structured way, set aside periods of quiet time and so on.  For some people that may be true.

Today’s passage follows on from the disciples’ request to be taught to pray – to which the first response was the Lord’s prayer, reflected on in yesterday’s devotion. 

Now Jesus shares with the disciples how God responds to our prayers, and how we should not be afraid to ask for what we need.

Jesus speaks of a person called upon in an emergency – late night guests needing food. Persistence pays when reluctantly the gift is made and the emergency is averted. God is never reluctant to help, and will always respond to our needs.

But, I hear you say, God does not always respond to prayers. It can feel that way when loved ones are sick and don’t recover or when prayed for outcomes don’t turn out as we hope.  Indeed, assuming God will provide the outcome we desire in response to our prayer may lead to disappointment.  I’m reminded of the film Bruce Almighty, when Bruce (Jim Carrey) takes on God’s role in listening to and answering prayer.  He grants the lottery win to all who ask – resulting in a tiny amount each, and a lot of disgruntled people!   

Sometimes, we may be tempted to treat prayer as a transaction with God – and the wording in this passage:  ask / receive, seek / find, knock / open may give that impression.  But God is not transactional, God is generous – so when we ask, we receive the Holy Spirit; when we seek, we find God; when we knock, God opens the door and welcomes us in.

Prayer is a habit we can build, bringing our praise, our worries, our desires and our searching to God.  Our reward is a deepening relationship with our Creator, helping us to face whatever life brings.

Prayer

Mother and Father God, help us when we pray to remember that you already know what we need, what we desire and what we are searching for.  Help us to learn that the answer to all our searching is you – loving, nourishing, strengthening and enabling us to face life’s difficulties with you at our side, behind us and before us – surrounding us with your love.  Amen