Shameless Audacity!

 

"And He said to them, "Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him; and he will answer from within and say, 'Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you, though he will not rise and give to him because  he is  his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs" - Luke 11:5-13

So I had a WOW moment, as I read this scripture different recently. Jesus here in this passage illustrates how his disciples should pray and never give up. I had a lightbulb moment, as I realised that actually the friend who goes to this other friend to lend him three loaves, goes to "ask it" on behalf of another & not himself. A real act of kindness and selflessness if you ask me. He was desperately seeking refreshment for his friend, who on 'his own journey" happened to have stopped by his, at this very odd hour. It doesn't sound like it was an expected visit, otherwise he would have prepared adequately for his needs ahead of time. It also sounds like his friend was really hungry, really starving. Generally people understand that at such odd hour; a glass of cold water could suffice until sunrise, when the host is able to get some supplies. Sounds to me like the desperate situation of his friend, moved him to go knocking on another's door, at this odd midnight hour. He asked for three loaves of bread. That was a real need for sure.

Our deep relationship with God, is also beneficial to the people in our lives and not just ourselves. Often times what people need we may not have, but because we know God, and He sees how compassionate, selfless, merciful and desperate for others we are in certain circumstances, He intervenes because of this. - ".....though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs" Another version calls it 'Shameless Audacity" WOW!

"If God answered all of your prayers, will the world look different or just your life" - Dave Willis

God honors our deep love and sacrifice for others. God loves a cheerful giver. God loves a heart that loves others passionately. God loves people who think outside of themselves so they can help others. God loves & honors fervent prayers made persistently on behalf of others. And because that's how Jesus loves us, that is also how we should love others. Miracles happen when we are consistent in prayer and shamelessly audacious for the people in our lives. Never give up. Reflect on the content of your prayer life. Is there anyone in your life right now, that has a desperate need that you are consistently praying for? If God answered all your prayers, what would the world around you look like?

"...they made a hole in the roof over where Jesus stood. They let the sick man on it down before Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the man, "Friend, your sins are forgiven" - Luke 5:19b-20

Love,

SR