Where are the desperate prayers?
The fridge is empty and a friend has arrived at midnight. He’s hungry. You know your neighbour had loads of pizza delivered so you go and knock on the door thinking surely he has leftovers. So with shameless audacity you go, knock, and knock, and knock, till he awakens, and then you ask. He gives you a box of pizza — so he can go back to sleep.
Jesus told this story first. Luke 11:5-10.
Jesus is describing something we don’t really believe to be true. We don’t really believe our spiritual cupboards are empty, barren, and lacking. Every time our friends arrive in their night asking for help we offer them something from our north american affluence, rather than from the zone of our poverty. We would rather not admit our barren spiritual cupboards. We would rather deny the spiritual dependency of our hearts because we don’t like to admit our emptiness. Somehow we have turned a reality of the spiritual life, depleted spiritual cupboards, into something shameful, something to be denied.
Jesus doesn’t treat reality that way. Nor does He treat us that way.
One disciple was willing to confess their spiritual poverty (Luke 11:1) so he asked, “Lord teach us to pray.” Jesus doesn’t just teach the “Lord’s Prayer; He is offering us a pathway to regular renewal. Jesus reveals that our Heavenly Father delights to give the good gift of the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him! (See Luke 11:11-13)
Every now and then we may throw up a quick “Oh Lord fill me with your Spirit.” But where are the desperate prayers? Desperate prayers are founded in a desperate realization: “I have neighbours asking for real help and my spiritual cupboard is empty. The daily bread has been eaten. It’s the middle of their night and Lord we need help! Come Lord fill us with your Spirit!”
Many neighbours, many friends, are in a long night of longing, having been ransacked by the world and the evil one. Dear Church they are not sure they can still come to you for help.
Are you persisting and longing in prayer before the Father who loves you and is willing to fill you?
In the asking we are positioned to receive.
In the seeking we are positioned to find.
In the knocking we are positioned to be welcomed.
Praise be to God. He is our good Father! Jesus says He will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.
“‘Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’ Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit…” Ephesians 5:14-18