August 24, 2018 Luke 11:5-13 New Life Version (NLV) I enjoy giving good things to our family; it truly is a blessing to bless them. If one of my children would ask me to make a special meal, I would hurry to do so. Did you know that Father desires to bless you as His child? It’s true. He desires to bless you with every spiritual blessing in the Holy Spirit. We are instructed to ask. So, how do we ask? We come boldly to the throne of grace and ask. Then, we begin looking for the answer. We persist in our prayer, because our persistence helps us recognize the move of God when it arrives. We know it is not of ourselves. Be bold in your asking! In our passage today, Jesus uses a picture-story to explain how to ask the Father for good things. Luke 11:5-13 5 Jesus said to them, “If one of you has a friend and goes to him in the night and says, ‘Friend, give me three loaves of bread, 6 for a friend of mine is on a trip and has stopped at my house. I have no food to give him.’ 7 The man inside the house will say, ‘Do not trouble me. The door is shut. My children and I are in bed. I cannot get up and give you bread.’ 8 I say to you, he may not get up and give him bread because he is a friend. Yet, if he keeps on asking, he will get up and give him as much as he needs. 9 I say to you, ask, and what you ask for will be given to you. Look, and what you are looking for you will find. Knock, and the door you are knocking on will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks, will receive what he asks for. Everyone who looks, will find what he is looking for. Everyone who knocks, will have the door opened to him. 11 “Would any of you fathers give your son a stone if he asked for bread? Or would you give a snake if he asked for a fish? 12 Or if he asked for an egg, would you give him a small animal with a sting of poison? 13 You are sinful and you know how to give good things to your children. How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” Prayer: Lord, you are always bringing good things to me as I ask. Thank you for your many blessings. I will continue to ask, look, and knock on heaven’s door for every spiritual blessing knowing it is your heart to provide it. In Jesus’ name. Amen.