If we can turn to an imperfect friend for a late-night favour, how much more can we trust that our loving God will always open the door to us when we knock?

Luke 11:5-8

5 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ 7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.

A few years ago, my best friend was going through a really tough time. We were housemates so he would often come and knock on my bedroom door just as I was getting into bed and ask if we could talk about some of the stuff that was on his mind. We spent many nights chatting well past midnight. After a while he didn’t even feel the need to knock on the door anymore before coming in for a therapeutic chat.

Would I have liked to get a good night’s sleep instead? Absolutely. I didn’t have consistent sleep patterns for about six months. But did I keep opening the door to my best friend when he asked? Of course! Even though I didn’t always enjoy it (especially when I was exhausted and falling asleep), my friend knew that when he asked, I would always say yes.

Now I’m not known for my patience. I struggle daily with loving people patiently, so I don’t share this story to pretend I’m good at it. On the contrary! If I – a selfish, grumpy sinner – could be depended on for a request, how much more faithfully will God answer our prayers? We often treat God as though he isn’t interested in hearing our requests, but Luke tells us God actually wants us to ask him! If we are comfortable asking family and friends for late-night favours, how much more should we feel comfortable making our requests known to God? In the very next verse, Jesus makes this promise: “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

Imagine if my friend had walked up to my door and then decided not to knock. Imagine instead, he walked away disappointed by the silence, hurt that I hadn’t shared a conversation with him when he needed it. He would be very foolish to refuse to knock and yet complain that I hadn’t been there for him. But how often do we do this to God! We complain he doesn’t hear our prayers, but how earnestly do we actually pray? We say we want to hear his voice, but do we even bother to knock on the door?

Head: What are the false beliefs (about God or yourself) that have stopped you from praying with audacity?

Heart: How does it feel to know that someone will always open the door to you? How does that move you to respond?

Hands: As you go about your day to day, keep a list of all the issues that dominate your attention: things that are causing stress, things you’re excited about, plans that need making, etc. At the end of your day, pull out this list and pray through it, handing all these things over to God.

Prayer: Thank you, God, that there is now no barrier to knowing you deeply. Please move my heart to treasure time with you in prayer. Give me confidence in your promise that you will open the door to all who knock, and give me humility to bring every request to you, the God who hears.

A song to listen to: Never Alone

Matthew Ventura – Living Church City South