“I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭11:8‬ ‭ESV‬‬‬‬‬‬

https://www.bible.com/59/luk.11.8.esv

Isn’t it wonderful that the Bible is the living Word of God, no matter how many times that we read, the Holy Spirit draws things to our attention. Jesus’ disciples asked Him to teach them to pray and he tells them a parable, a story with which they would have been accustomed, but with Jesus there was always a point to make. Custom would have said that if a friend called unexpectedly , hospitality should be shown, but this is the middle of the night. I can imagine the disciples identifying with the man, becoming indignant at being put out, but dragging himself out of bed.

Disaster there was nothing to give the guest to eat, so he bangs on his neighbour’s door and it is his impudence that gets results.

When did you or I last say an impudent prayer? Something that was shameless and brazen, other translations say persistent, but for me I love the way the ESV says impudent.

I wonder as our prayer life become too sanitised, as it become routine and predictable. As Jesus finishes this teaching, the gift that the Father gives is the Holy Spirit.

We can happily sing “God made a way where there was no way” but where did that pioneering, audacious, outrageous, impudent life of prayer disappear to?

Lord fill us with you Spirit again that we would dare to pray with impudence. Amen.