Jesus
answered and said, ’You do not know what you ask’ —
There
are times in your spiritual life when there is confusion, and the way out of it
is not simply to say that you should not be confused. It is not a matter of
right and wrong, but a matter of God taking you through a way that you
temporarily do not understand. And it is only by going through the spiritual
confusion that you will come to the understanding of what God wants for you.
The Shrouding of His Friendship (see Luke 11:5-8).
Jesus gave the illustration here of a man who appears not to care for his
friend. He was saying, in effect, that is how the heavenly Father will appear
to you at times. You will think that He is an unkind friend, but remember? He
is not. The time will come when everything will be explained. There seems to be
a cloud on the friendship of the heart, and often even love itself has to wait
in pain and tears for the blessing of fuller fellowship and oneness. When God
appears to be completely shrouded, will you hang on with confidence in Him?
Luke
11:1-13New International Version - UK (NIVUK)Jesus’ teaching on prayer
11 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.’
2 He said to them, ‘When you pray, say:
‘“Father,[a] hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.[b] 3 Give us each day our daily bread.4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.[c]And lead us not into temptation.”’[d]
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[e] he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.
9 ‘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. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
11
‘Which of you fathers, if your son asks for[f] a fish, will give him a snake
instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then,
though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much
more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!’
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