Luke 11:5-10 NRSVue

5And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.’ 7And he answers from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ 8I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything out of friendship, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.

9“So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 10For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

Some thoughts on this scripture

Reflection
This guarantee that God will answer persistent prayer may move me in any one of a number of ways. It might excite and encourage me. It could, however, leave me feeling frustrated and dejected, depending on my past experience.

Reflection
So, no matter how I'm feeling right now, I might ask the Lord for a deeper understanding of his call to perseverance in prayer.

Reflection
What is he trying to teach me about myself and my relationship with God?

Reflection
It is often at midnight, or in the small hours, that I most feel the need of God; but when I call on him then, he sometimes seems to be asleep on his watch. He does not hear me.

Reflection
Lord, you tell me emphatically to persist, to keep battering at your door for myself and those I love. You tell me that prayer is not wasted: More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.

Reflection
Prayer is its own reward to the extent that we always receive when we pray. We are closer to God’s love and the door is always opened to new hope and new confidence in our lives. We may not get all we want, or specific things we ask for. We get what God wants to give at the time for the good of our lives. What we are always given in prayer is God’s Holy Spirit with whatever gift of the Spirit we most need at the time.