Bold and Confident Praying

August 30, 2024

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.” Luke 11:5-10 NLT

Immediately after Jesus taught the disciples to pray what we commonly call the Lord’s Prayer, He taught them about the importance of bold, confident, persistent prayers. He told them a story about a man who had a visitor come to his house at midnight. The culture of the day said he had to feed and house the visitor, yet he had no food. There were no 7-Elevens or places to get food. So, he went to a neighbor’s home, knocked loudly on the door, and called out his need to borrow three loaves of bread. The neighbor responded from behind the closed and locked door, “Go away. My whole family is trying to sleep. I can’t help you.”

Jesus said, “Even though this man will not give to his neighbor for friendship’s sake, if the man keeps asking, his neighbor will get eventually get up and give him what he wants because of his shameless persistence.” Then Jesus told us to be shamelessly persistent with God – to keep on knocking, asking, and seeking, then eventually the door will be opened. Not because God is reluctant to help us, not because He wants us to beg, but because persistent boldness and courage changes us, our priorities, and our hearts.

God wants us to consistently pray bold, confident, even audacious prayers. They are what unlocks His power in our lives and gives us the courage and discipline to be bold and courageous in our actions for God. We will never act with wise courage and boldness until we pray in that manner.

Your prayers say so much about where you are in your faith and trust relationship with Jesus Christ. The early church was so confident in their Christ-centered faith that they prayed unselfishly for things that would change their community and world. What might happen here and now if we prayed those bold, courageous prayers?

• Lord, teach me to pray. I want to be bold and courageous.