Shameless Audacity

"Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need. So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you....how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:8-9,13 I love the use of the words "shameless audacity" in describing how he was able to get his friend to help him, simply because he was extremely persistent. Jesus was using this parable (analogy) to teach us about diligent in prayer. God wants us to be fully vested in the things we long for and diligently pray for. The reminder that relationship, is more rewarding when we risk a little. We risk hoping, trusting and being open to the possibility of being disappointed at times, as things can't always go our way. To come along side God on this faith journey. He doesn't want a bunch of spoiled kids, just putting our hands out waiting for Him to give us all our hearts desires. No, He wants us to work alongside Himself, digging deep, drawing close, as we wait patiently for His answer to our prayers. To not simply throw pennies in the fountain as we make a wish but to sit beside Him, at His feet, talking to Him about our dreams and asking for His Will to be done. To patiently sit there with Him enjoying His presence and trusting His decisions and goodness. Knowing that whatever the outcome is, it is for our ultimate good and the time spent with Him leaves us feeling whole and fulfilled. We walk away each time knowing, all we really need He has already been given to us. Those that seek Him diligently. Here is an excerpt from "The Quest" study by Beth Moore that really spoke to me about this subject. Especially as I walk trough the struggles of infertility and need every reminder along the way. "The HCSB makes the present verb tenses in Greek obvious: "9 “So I say to you, keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you." Luke 11:9 "Why all the emphasis on the keeping, do you think?" "We're beating on these three drums-asking, searching, knocking-because they invite participants into the parade of faith instead of fostering distorted spectators who stick to the sidewalk with gun on our shoes. The action verbs set an animated rhythm to our pilgrimage songs because they train us to expect something ahead. What our Maker knows, our mouths may find hard to admit: The human soul was fashioned to prize discovery above luxury." My hope for myself and each of you, is that we learn to pray diligently with shameless audacity, all while drawing closer to Him as we trust in His Will and His goodness.