What Jesus Did! 'One of the Greatest Answers to Prayer' — Luke 11:11-13

Thursday, July 20, 2023

[Continuing his teaching on prayer, Jesus said,] "You fathers — if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him."
— Luke 11:11-13 NLT

Key Thought

What's one of the greatest answers to our prayers? The gift of God's cleansing, justifying, sanctifying, saving, empowering, and indwelling Holy Spirit! If imperfect human fathers know how to give good gifts, don't you think the Father in heaven will give us and empower us with his Holy Spirit? So let's ask, expect, and receive this incomparable gift.

Today's Prayer

Father, I know that when you saved me, you cleansed me by your Holy Spirit and that you came to live in me and make my body your temple through your Holy Spirit. Now I ask that I may be more aware of the Spirit's presence and power in me, not just to sense your presence but so that I can be like Christ in every way. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

9 Related Resources by Heartlight

Are We Asking?
Devo: God's Holy Fire
"[Jesus said,] "If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to...."
Luke 11:13
Devo: Today's Verse
"If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask....."
Good Gifts to His Children
Illustration of Luke 11:13
E-card of Luke 11:13 - If you.. know how to give good gifts to your children, then how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!
Some of My Very Best Gifts
Devo: A Year with Jesus
"My Beloved, Far too often in your world, children and their fathers have great difficulty communicating. Sometimes this situation is because of..."
See All 9 Related Resources about Luke 11:11-13

Illustration

Illustration of Luke 11:11-13 NLT — "You fathers — if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead?"

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Thursday, July 20, 2023

A Year with Jesus
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
'Wouldn't It Be Better?'
"Dear Disciple, Today's verses are from 1 Corinthians. Paul had begun to address the sin and division damaging the holiness and fellowship in the..."
Today's Verse
A daily devotional featuring a Bible verse, thought and prayer.
1 Samuel 16:7
"The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Evening Thought: Luke 8:42
"Jesus is passing through the throng to the house of Jairus, to raise the ruler's dead daughter; but he is so profuse in goodness that he works another..."
Praying with Paul
Features the apostle Paul's writings turned into daily, powerful prayers.
'Cause Us to Pray' (2 Th. 3:1-5,)
"Dear Father, who hears our prayers, May all of your people pray earnestly for each other, and especially for your ministers, that your word may speed..."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

More What Jesus Did!