Luke 11:9-13 (NRSV)
Read Luke 11:9-13 on biblegateway.com
Verse 9"So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. Verse 10For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Verse 11Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Verse 12Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? Verse 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!"
Devotion
I’m convinced we need to rediscover how broad prayer can be. It’s not a legal petition that has to be in certain form. It’s simply turning yourself God-ward. One reason for constant prayer is that all life becomes prayer in that we learn to live, facing God.
In our jobs, in shaping zoning laws and corporate long range strategies, in supporting schools, in our own offices and places of work, in voting for candidates – in all these places – if we lived God-ward, we would reshape society. Prayer is the cornerstone – we look inside ourselves and join ourselves to God.
There is, of course, an element of danger in prayer. You open yourself up to the presence of God in your life and you may not be in control anymore. God comes to us not alone, but with a host of people and concerns, all of which become part of our lives. But what glorious company it is!