Psalm of the Day: Psalm 143:1-12
Wisdom of the Day: Proverbs 14:1-17
Scripture Reading:Luke 11:5-13
We learn how wide and encouraging are the promises which the Lord Jesus holds out to prayer. "Ask and you shall receive; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you..."
There are few passages in the Bible which so completely strip the unconverted man of his common excuses, as this passage. He says he is "weak and helpless," but does he ask to be made strong? He says he is "wicked and corrupt," but does he seek to be made better? He says he "can do nothing of himself," but does he knock at the door of mercy, and pray for the grace of the Holy Spirit? These are questions to which many can make no answer. They are what they are, because they have no real desire to be changed. They have not because they ask not.
Let us ask ourselves whether we know anything of real prayer? Do we pray at all? Do we pray in the name of Jesus, and as needy sinners? Do we know what it is to "ask," and "seek," and "knock," and wrestle in prayer like men who feel that it is a matter of life or death, and that they must have an answer? Or are we content with saying over some old form of words while our thoughts are wandering, and our hearts far away? Truly we have learned a great lesson, when we have learned that "saying prayers" is not praying!
Prayer for the Day: Dear Lord, please help me learn the power of prayer.
Action Plan: There are 1,440 minutes in a day. Calculate how many minutes a day you pray. Is God pleased with this? How effective of a prayer warrior are you?
This devotional was taken from The Gospel of Luke by J.C. Ryle published in 1858
and adapted by Pastor Tim Lewis of New England Shores Baptist Church.
