Knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Luke 11, verse 9.
Jesus urges us to pray. We are not merely to ask to God now and then, but to be persistent in prayer. Therefore, Jesus says knock. “Which of you”, he urges, “shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say to him, Friend, lend me loaves. For a friend of mine is in his journey, has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him. And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not, the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed, I cannot rise and give you. I say unto you, though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his insistence, He will rise and give him as many as he needs.
In short Jesus is saying in this text that if you and I give beggars something merely to get rid of them, how much more will God give us what we need if we plead and beg as His children? Therefore, Jesus says, Knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
The Lord invites you to come to Him with all your problems, cares, and worries. You can always come, knocking at the door in prayer, and He will open.
On the other hand, we are to knock at the door and ask for help ourselves. We are to make known to Him our needs. We are to seek His help both for body and soul. Physical hunger we feel at once. Many of us, however, do not long for spiritual food for the soul. However, Jesus encourages us to seek first God's help for the needs of the soul, and He will likewise give us daily bread to support and sustain our body.
We are also encouraged to knock at the door and ask for others. The Bible speaks of making intercession for all men. That is, we are to pray for others. Our prayers should be all embracing the world in our field of prayer. One moment we can pray for some missionary pleading with God to encourage him in the performing of his difficult tasks, and the next moment we can pray for some lost soul living next door.
Whether we pray for ourselves or for others. Christ Jesus gives us the assurance it shall be opened unto you. The Lord hears our prayers. How encouraging to us in the days of troubles and trials. This promise fills us with hope. This promise teaches us to pray diligently and then wait upon the Lord with confidence. Let us continue instantly in our prayers. Always knocking know that in grace and mercy Jesus will answer.
We pray.
Gracious and merciful Father, I come to you as the very present help in trouble. You have promised to open the door to me as I pray. You have given me blessed assurance that you will abide with me whenever all other comforts fail. Lord, I put my trust in you. I ask you and seek you forsake me not. I am unworthy of divine grace. I am mindful of my many sins, but Lord, according to Your grace, blot them out and remember them no more. Created in me a clean heart and renew in me a right spirit that I may daily seek you in prayer and live in blessed communion with you and with my neighbors. Protect us from all dangers of body and soul. Let’s not the cares and worries of life rob me of my hope. In Jesus name. Amen.