Luke 11:8

New International Version

 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.

For Encouragement

After giving the model prayer to His inquiring disciples (Luke 11:1:4), Jesus followed it with a parable that illustrated how persistent prayer delivers to the genuinely needy person before God (5-13). 

The friend in the parable was desperate. He had a guest who came unannounced and at an awkward time. Probably, the visiting friend was on a journey and stopped to pass the night in his town and home. It happened very often in those days, unlike the world today. 

This brother had no food to serve the visiting friend, so he went to another friend for help. But there was only one problem. It was midnight. He knocked and sounded his need (5-6). The response was shocking, but it did not discourage him. 

‘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 (7).

But our needy friend would not let go. He kept banging on the door and repeating his desperate need with increasing urgency. Jesus said the sleeping friend finally got up and gave the friend as much as he needed because of his persistent audacity. 

Though friendship may not get it for you, persistence will do it. Why? Because by persisting, you show you need what you are asking. Your request is important to you. You treasure it enough to be shameless about it, and you cannot do without it. Your life hangs on it, and you will not leave without it.

That is what our persistent prayer tells God. And that is why God will give you what you are asking for if it is the right thing. So, Jesus concluded the story with this principle of prayer.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened” (9-10).

Let us be audacious in our prayers, and persistent too. Our Father in heaven wants to know how much we need Him. Do we trust Him enough to hang on until His perfect timing dawns?