“I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs. ‘So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give 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!’”  (Luke 11:8-13)  This section of Luke’s gospel concerns prayer.  The first four verses of chapter 11 are his rendition of the Lord’s Prayer that then sets the context for our highlighted verses today.  So it is crucial that we 21st century Christians join the first century Christians and admit that we too, do not know how to pray.  In response, Jesus graciously shares his prayer with them and us.  Following teaching us the words, he next offers the how, the timing of our prayers.  Perhaps we (or at least I) don’t really like this part.  For here, he tells us that we must be persistent in our praying.  Here he reveals to us that no immediate answer is not a rejection of our request or us.  Instead, the call for persistence is an offer to us to join him in his prayers.  The call to keep on asking and to keep on knocking is an offer of himself for all of our needs.  At least for me, much of the time, I don’t really know what I want; I don’t really know what I need.  In response, Jesus says, “come to me, spend time with me.  I’ll teach you how to pray and for what you need to pray.”  How about you?  For what and for whom is Jesus calling you to pray?  How is he inviting you to be persistent in spending time with him?