Episode 214 — Luke 11:5–13 — Keep On Asking

Hey everybody, welcome to the podcast, I’m Nick and it’s fantastic to be here with you today.
Today is August 9.
Each day, we follow a simple rhythm: Slow Down, Read, Notice, Reread, Meditate, Respond, and Exercise.
Let’s begin.

Slow Down
Jesus is here. He’s sitting in your favorite spot, waiting for you to join Him.
You may have a million things on your mind, but for these few moments, set them aside. Relax. Calm your body.
Close your eyes. Take a deep breath in, then slowly release it.
As you inhale, whisper: “Jesus, I seek you.” 
As you exhale, pray: “Let me find You.”
Do this three times, then rest in His presence.

Read
 
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, ‘A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.’ 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.’ 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. 
“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. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 
“You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”
( Lk 11:5–13, NLT)

Notice
What stands out to you in this passage?
Is there a phrase or truth that speaks directly to you?
Hold it in your heart for a moment.

Reread
Hear these words again listening for what Jesus is saying to you.
Meditate
Jesus tells a story about a man who knocks on his neighbor's door at midnight.
It's an inconvenient hour. The neighbor is in bed. The door is locked. The family is asleep. Every reason to give up and go home.
But the man keeps knocking. And eventually — not out of friendship, but because of the man's shameless persistence — the neighbor gets up and gives him what he needs.
Now here's what's important: Jesus isn't saying God is like the reluctant neighbor. He's saying the opposite. If even a grumpy neighbor will eventually give you what you need because you kept asking — how much more will your heavenly Father, who loves you deeply and gives good gifts, respond to your persistent prayer?
Then Jesus gives us three commands — each one more intentional than the last:
Keep on asking. Keep on seeking. Keep on knocking.
Asking is a voice. Seeking is movement. Knocking is action. Jesus is calling us to a prayer life that doesn't give up — that keeps coming back, keeps pursuing, keeps believing that God hears and God responds.
And then He makes the most reassuring promise: "For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened."
Not maybe. Not sometimes. Everyone.
Take a few moments to sit with this question:
What prayer have I given up on — and what would it look like to pick it up again today with shameless persistence?

Respond
Jesus, I will be persistent in prayer. I'm picking up the prayers I've put down. I'm knocking again on the doors I stopped knocking on. I trust that You hear me, that You love me, and that You give good gifts. I will keep asking.

Exercise
The rush of life will meet you again when you leave this sacred place—but you can carry this moment into your day by forming new habits.
Habit: The Persistent Prayer 
Today's habit is to pick up a prayer you've put down.
Identify one specific prayer you've stopped praying. Maybe you prayed it for months and nothing seemed to happen. Maybe you got discouraged. Maybe you started to wonder if God was listening. Maybe you told yourself it was too small, or too big, or too complicated.
Write it down. Name it specifically.
Then ask yourself: Did I stop praying because God said no — or because I got tired of asking?
If God hasn't said no, the door is still open. The invitation to keep knocking still stands.
Bring that prayer back to Jesus today and pray: "Jesus, I stopped asking about _________________. I got discouraged. I got tired. I started to wonder if You were listening. But You said to keep on asking. You said everyone who asks receives. So I'm asking again. I'm knocking again. I trust that You hear me and that You give good gifts. I'm not giving up."
The man at midnight didn't knock once and go home. He kept knocking until the door opened.
God hasn't forgotten your prayer. He hasn't moved on. He hasn't stopped listening. Keep asking. Keep seeking. Keep knocking.
The door will be opened.

I have two asks of you before you go, could you please share this podcast with one person today and check out the review of this podcast on Elevate Society?
That’s your two minutes with Jesus for today.
Now, take what you’ve heard…share it and live it.
Until next time, keep slowing down, keep listening, and keep walking with Jesus.