Asking for the Holy Spirit
Scripture Reading — Luke 11:9-13
“If you then . . . 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 him!”
I love giving good gifts to my children. If they constantly nagged me for things, though, I would probably tire quickly of their demands. Constant demands quickly feel like unreasonable ones.
So why does God want us to keep asking him for things? Is it because he wants to be in control? No. God is already in control, and he doesn’t depend on us to make him feel needed.
No matter what we do or how we do it, we can’t coax, cajole, or wheedle God into responding to our prayers. But the good news is that we don’t need to do that.
God wants to answer us because he loves us and wants to be in relationship with us. When we pray, we acknowledge who God is and that we depend on him. And God supplies us with all that we need, all that he has promised.
So what should we pray for? We should pray for everything we need and, above all, we should ask for the presence of the Holy Spirit. Having the Spirit of God dwell in our hearts is the greatest gift that God gives to his children.
When you pray today, don’t grovel and beg before God. Approach him with thanksgiving and ask for what you need, and above all ask him for the presence, strength, and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Lord, we praise and thank you for always providing and caring for us. Hear our prayer, and send us your Spirit to guide and strengthen us today. Amen.
About the author — Kurt Selles
Kurt Selles is the director of ReFrame Ministries and serves as the Executive Editor of Today. He is a graduate of Calvin College and Seminary, and received his PhD from Vanderbilt University. Before coming to ReFrame, he served 19 years in Taiwan and China with CRC World Missions. Kurt later taught missions at Beeson Divinity School, where he also acted as the director of the school’s Global Center. Kurt and his wife, Vicki, reside in Grand Rapids and have three adult children.
Start your day with quick daily devotions.
See God's love, power, presence, and purpose in your life every day!