Day 11: Ask for the Filling

Come Before Him in Worship: Come boldly into the throne room of grace to behold your heavenly Father. Picture him as Jesus described - a Father who runs to greet you with tender affections and mercy. See his arms extended toward you as He longs to give you good gifts! Thank him for the wondrous gift of the Holy Spirit, God with us!

Reflect: In this passage, Jesus is teaching his followers both how and for what to pray. He teaches that we are not only to ask, but also to seek, to “second” our prayers if you will, with our efforts, and then to continue to knock on the door, persevering in prayer until he answers. In so doing, he assures us that we will eventually prevail! Jesus then gives us the example of an earthly father who simply cannot deny the pleas of his child for his daily provision of food. Then, comparing that food to our daily need for the Holy Spirit, he says, “how much more will the heavenly Father (who is infinitely better than any earthly father) give the Holy Spirit to those (amongst his children) who ask him.” Like a little child, we are fully dependent upon him for this provision. And he is fully inclined to answer our pleas.

Respond in Prayer: Father, how many days do I run off in my own strength, when you tell me simply to come to you and ask for spiritual provision for the day? Forgive me for that and for the times I have failed to see and believe in your goodness Lord.

God, please fill me with your Holy Spirit as I come and ask you now. You love me so well. Thank you Jesus for sharing your Father with me and bringing me into adoption as his child with you. It is truly astonishing that we can now say he is OUR Father.