Day 22: Luke 11:1-23

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, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.

3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’”

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.

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 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!”

Jesus’ disciples had seen Jesus go off by Himself to pray throughout the night. They had seen Him pray to God before performing miracles. They realized prayer was foundational to Jesus’ life and wanted to learn how they can have that power too.

In the teaching Jesus offers, He focuses on three key elements of prayer. First, He spends time praising and worshiping God. Next, He models how the disciples can persistently acknowledge their needs before God. Finally, Jesus teaches the disciples God’s character; like a perfect, heavenly parent, who desires to give good gifts to His children.

What does prayer feel like for you in this season of life? Do you long to deepen your prayer life like the disciples did? 

Ask Jesus now to teach you how to pray to your perfect heavenly Father.

The scripture continues…

14 Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed. 15 But some of them said, “By Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons.” 16 Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven.

17 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. 18 If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebul. 19 Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 20 But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

21 “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. 22 But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder.

23 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

In this passage, Christ does something that cannot be explained. Some responded to the healing of the demon-possessed man with amazement. But others were wary of such power, and accused Jesus of using demonic power to perform such miracles.

But why would an evil power produce a good and holy result? Jesus points this out to the crowd, and shows how the power of God brings about the kingdom of God. Christ then states, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”

We will be able to recognize the work of the Spirit by the fruit that is displayed.

Spend some time honestly before the Spirit now. What are the good fruits coming from your life? Is there fruit working against the way of Jesus? 

Pray now that you may be “with Jesus”- partnering with his plans and surrendering to his mercy.