“SUCCESS” IN PRAYER
(Friday, October 25)
“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Lk 11: 9-13)
I was recently asked whether the “success” of our prayers depends on our “righteousness.” No, according to what the Lord says above. Success in prayer does depend on us doing it, just praying, consistently, as best we can. The reward may not be what we expected or asked for, because sometimes we’re asking for a stone or a serpent or a scorpion, from One Who is the Source of Righteousness and wants abundantly to pour out on us the grace of the Holy Spirit. But He doesn’t presume we are “righteous,” as we can see in this passage. Here He’s encouraging us to pray and at the same time calls us “evil”: “If you then, being evil…,” He says. That shouldn’t discourage us from praying, a bit every day, a bit throughout every day, consistently. The company we keep rubs off on us, and that’s how it works with having prayerful communion with God. His goodness and will rubs off on us, so we gradually stop desiring stuff like stones and scorpions.
Today let me keep things simple and just pray, however I can, and however un-righteous I happen to be. God isn’t out to give me a “stone” or a “serpent” or a “scorpion.” What He offers me is Himself, inviting me also to offer myself to Him, as I am, in heartfelt prayer. Give us this day our daily bread, our Father, however You see fit. Amen!