Pray Boldly in Faith

“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you.” Luke 11:9
A man goes to his friend's house in the middle of the night, knocking at the door, waking up his family, asking for bread so he can serve a friend who has shown up at his own house. (Luke 11:5-8)
Boldness, audacity, nerve: these words could describe the man in Jesus' story who troubles his friend in the middle of the night!
Can you imagine doing such a thing? You come to your friend's house. All is dark. They are obviously in bed.
Now, if I had a serious problem and needed help right away, then of course I'd ask ... but would I wake them up just for some bread?
Let's say for the sake of the story that I had gathered the nerve to go up and knock on the door and then I was told, “Don't bother me, I'm already in bed!” Well, I'd certainly be embarrassed and would not hesitate to leave. — But not this man, he keeps on persistently asking and knocking. What boldness!
Jesus is not teaching us social etiquette in this story; he is showing us how to pray. “Lord, teach us to pray,” a disciple had asked him. After giving them the Lord's Prayer, Jesus gives them this illustration about the boldness with which God desires you to come to him in prayer.
And when we do pray boldly, what do we get?
Jesus reminds us of the very best gift God gives in answer to our prayers: “How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13b)
The Holy Spirit is God's best gift to his children. The Father gives you the Holy Spirit to whisper faith into your ear and to share all his fruits: that you may grow in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control ... loving God and loving your neighbor. 
So, dear friends in Christ, pray boldly in faith. Faith that believes that your sin is taken away through Jesus and you are God's precious child. Pray boldly because the Father has commanded you to do so. Pray boldly trusting your heavenly Father to pour out his Holy Spirit on you and in you.