January 31, 2020

Prayer: The Difference Between the Disciplined and the Desperate

Luke 11:1–28

Kimo Thorpe
Friday's Devo

January 31, 2020

Friday's Devo

January 31, 2020

Central Truth

We all want to pray more, but what's the secret to having a thriving prayer life? Jesus shows us that it's not about being disciplined; it's about being desperate.

Key Verse | Luke 11:13

"If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

Luke 11:1–28

The Lord's Prayer

Now Jesus 1 11:1 Greek he was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” And he said to them, “When you pray, say:

Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.

Give us each day our daily bread, 2 11:3 Or our bread for tomorrow
and forgive us our sins,
    for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation.”

And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence 3 11:8 Or persistence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for 4 11:11 Some manuscripts insert bread, will give him a stone; or if he asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Jesus and Beelzebul

14 Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled. 15 But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,” 16 while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. 17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. 18 And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. 19 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 20 But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; 22 but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. 23 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

Return of an Unclean Spirit

24 When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ 25 And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. 26 Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.”

True Blessedness

27 As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” 28 But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

Footnotes

[1] 11:1 Greek he
[2] 11:3 Or our bread for tomorrow
[3] 11:8 Or persistence
[4] 11:11 Some manuscripts insert bread, will give him a stone; or if he asks for

Dive Deeper | Luke 11:1–28

Between you and me, I've always struggled with prayer. I get excited about memorizing Scripture, sharing the gospel, even singing worship songs, but when it comes to prayer, I have a really hard time. I know God answers prayers, and it's not that I don't like praying; I just forget to pray. I'm embarrassed to say it, but prayer is a challenge. 

That said, at the beginning of the year I was determined to start praying "better," whatever that means. I made cards, set phone alarms, and even read a book about prayer. Whatever the strategy was, it only lasted as long as I was disciplined and then it would fade away.

Luke 11:1-13 can be broken up into three parts:

  • Verses 1-4: Disciples asking and Jesus answering how to pray
  • Verses 5-8: Parable showing God's willingness to answer prayer
  • Verses 9-13: God's delight in answering prayer

As I spent some time reading Luke 11, I started to realize something. It didn't fully click until I was sleep deprived and putting Charley, our newborn, to sleep. It was late, and she was having a rough night, which meant her parents were having a rough night. As I tried putting her down, I instantly began praying a prayer all parents know well: "God, please let her sleep." 

In that moment, I realized something amazing. I wasn't praying because it was on some prayer card or because I was disciplined, but because I was desperate.

Prayer is not an exercise that disciplined people do; it's a gift God gives the desperate.

Sometimes it's obvious how desperate we are because we lose a job, a loved one, or something else important. But God wants us to come to Him even when we think things are going well. He delights in answering our prayers, but He loves when we ask!

Being a part of Watermark Urgent Care is a regular reminder of how much I need to depend on Christ. If you want a thriving prayer life, remember your desperation for God. Then you can ask Him for the best gift available: more of Him!

Discussion Questions

1. How would you rate your prayer life? Why?

2. What things do you go to God for first, and what things do you avoid talking about with God? Why?

3. In what ways are you reminded of your need for God? Are those the things you pray for regularly? 

4. Will you say a quick prayer for our friends at Watermark Urgent Care? Between the two clinics, we see over 10,000 patients annually.