Luke 11:9 is iconic and one of the most frequently quoted passages in the New Testament.
However, when we look at the context of the verse we see the deeper significance of Jesus’s guidance. The verse follows the parable of a man knocking persistently on a neighbor’s door to ask for bread to feed a guest. It also follows the “Lord’s prayer”. Both are significant to fully understand today’s passage. First, the Lord’s Prayer establishes the elements of prayer. Secondly, the parable explains how a friend will fulfill an inconvenient request if it becomes persistent and annoying. While I don’t think God regards our requests as annoying, the parable helps us see the importance of persistence.
In Luke 11:9 Jesus outlines God’s expectations when we pray. Using the parable as a guide, He lists 3 actions: ask, seek, and knock. These actions are not the same, but have distinct meaning. God wants us to ask Him for what we need, actively seek His direction, acknowledge that some answers are hidden behind closed doors that we have to knock on to gain access to the answers.
Sometimes I think God grows weary of my persistent prayers about the same thing, but today’s verse helps me better understand that persistence is part of the process. Yes, God wants to meet my needs, but I have to open my heart and mind to seek His direction and keep knocking until He either opens the door, or tells me I don’t need what’s behind it.
