Prayer 101 - #18 Let's Pretend - 2 of 4

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.’ Luke 11:5-6

Jesus continues his prayer class by telling the disciples a “Let’s Pretend” story concerning prayer. The story has the disciples as the main character asking for bread from a friend at an unseemly hour in order to feed a traveling friend who is in need of food. The request for bread was granted…not out of friendship but because of the shameless audacity of the requestor.

Though the friendship between the “bread-asker” and the “bread-giver” was not ultimately the reason the request for bread was granted, it was the basis for why the request was made in the first place. The “bread-asker” knew the “bread-giver” well enough to call him friend…well enough to know that he would have enough bread to give…well enough to know if he came at the most inconvenient time, he would likely grant his request. Prayer is not approaching a stranger named “God” or an impersonal King with a request. Prayer is approaching someone with whom you have a relationship…someone you can call “Friend”. Prayer is approaching someone you know well enough to know that he has abundant supply…well enough to know that he will grant your request. Because he is your friend, you know he will grant your request even though you may approach him very imperfectly.