The Prayer that is Impudent

And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? 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. And I tell 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 the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Lk 11:5–13).

Right after He told them what to pray, Jesus taught His disciples how to pray. It’s all about relationship. He described the kind of attitude the person praying should have with the word impudence. The Greek word anaideia means audacity, rudeness, shameless persistence. In short, Jesus taught that determined disciples should pray determined prayers. He wants us to pray with a bold, consistent confidence because we know that He is like a faithful friend who will not grow weary of our request. He is like a loving father who will not let anything hinder or distract Him from answering us. When we have a serious need, Jesus wants His true disciples to pray the prayer that is impudent.

The impudent prayer is persistent. Jesus responds to the persistent prayer because persistence drives us closer to Him. He is not like a fickle friend that is disturbed by the desperate need of another. Jesus is a faithful friend that willingly sets aside His agenda and reorders His life’s priorities around the needs of His friends… “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Our shameless, persistent prayers in time of need are an expression of our humility and confidence in the special relationship we have as born again friends of the Son of God… “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15).

The impudent prayer is paternal. Jesus responds to childlike prayer because He loves to reveal God as our Father. He is not like an earthly father who although he may love his children still has a sin nature to deal with. Jesus wants us to discover the perfect love our holy and omnipotent Father has for us as His born again children… “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). When we respond to need with audacious, persistent prayer, God responds with the precious, powerful grace of a loving father… “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are” (1 John 3:1).

The impudent prayer is pursuing. Jesus responds to the vocal, searching, and pursuing seeker because such diligent prayer drives us closer to Him. Asking is speaking and declaring the need. Seeking is searching for the answer. Knocking is approaching the Presence. God is sovereign over every inch and moment of our lives and He allows and orchestrates our needs to compel us to discover and know Him more clearly because knowing God is what real life is all about… “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:3). Asking, seeking, and knocking should become a way of life for born again children of God living in a very needy and fallen world… “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). When we learn to let our needs inspire impudent prayer we get to know God and His glorious power better… “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known” (Jeremiah 33:3).

As we grow up into Christ we discover that our loving Father always answers when we pray…

The Prayer that is Impudent.