Ask, Search and Knock

He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.’ He said to them, ‘When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial.’ And he said to them, ‘Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, “Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.” And he answers from within, “Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.” I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs. ‘So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If 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!’ Luke 11:1-13

In my youth, this passage from Luke, "Ask and it shall be given unto you", was the song of my heart. It reminded me to pray always, and I loved singing harmonies and descants to this song. Once, I thought everything was possible. I imagined myself, like Dorothy, with ruby slippers, reciting "there's no place like home." In my wider years, I have realized that God indeed does hear our prayers, give us answers, and the answers are not always what we expect. It isn't the magic of childlike thinking. It is the gift of the Holy Spirit, which showers us with new life and love when we are at our lowest points in life.

Wondrous Creator, you call us to pray

to always ask, to seek and to knock

you are listening with a heart of love

and you send your Spirit to revive us.

We want immediate results to our prayers

when we are given patience instead

we think you are not listening nor responding

when you are moving heaven and earth for us.

Help us to pray moment by moment to you

trusting that there are answers prepared 

knowing that the heart of our Creator

has plentious blessing for us today. Amen.