Definition: the quality or state of being audacious: as
   a : intrepid boldness

I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity^[a] he will surely get up and give you as much as you need. (Luke 11:8, NIV)

There are several things Luke chooses to focus on in his gospel and the Book of Acts. One of the key elements would be prayer. And not just the weak attempts we find in our lives today.

Bold prayer.

Audacious prayer.

It’s actually pretty incredible at just how forward Jesus is at inviting us TO ASK. It’s not about being polite, or holding back. It’s about being intrepid. It’s about boldness.

Over the years I will confess many “bold” prayers get toned down in my own life because of crazy “name it claim it” attempts at grasping at something that is not really Kingdom minded. Yet, I let it hold ME back from truly attempting the bold. I let it hold me back because I don’t want to sound “crazy.” But I can’t let the fringes dictate my own calling from the Lord to ask boldly. The fringes don’t dictate my theology. And why should I fear seeming to pray in a way that others may not understand? I can’t control that, either!

The invitation is to boldness. It is the invitation to bother God with my incessant asking. He can guide me from there. And let that be the key: HE can guide me. Not anyone else. Not someone who doesn’t pray. Not Joel Osteen. No one. He can guide me.

Pray. Pray boldly. Pray brashly. Get some audacity back in the life of prayer!