11 “Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he?
12 “Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he?
13 “If you then, being evil, 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 11:9-13. (Emphasis added.)
Notice the progression in the last three Scriptures.
First, Luke 11:1-4, which contains the Lord’s prayer, teaches us to pray.
Second, Luke 11:5-8 which contains the example of the need, teaches us to pray persistently.
Third, this Luke 11:9-13 Scripture for today, teaches us to pray persistently for the Holy Spirit.
Receipt of the Holy Spirit is our goal. Galatians 3:5 asks the question to point to the means of the receipt of that goal of the Holy Spirit. “So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?”
“Taking it a step further”, our goal is to walk by the Spirit. See Galatians Chapter 5 and Romans 7:1-14.
When we walk by the Spirit, the Holy Spirit produces the fruit of the Spirit within us of “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control”. Galatians 5:22-23.
When we “walk by the Spirit”, we “will not carry out the desire of the flesh”. Galatians 5:16.
When we walk by the Spirit, “the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit”. Romans 8:4.
When we walk by the Spirit, “the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace”. Romans 8:6.
When we walk by the Spirit, we gain “life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” Romans 8:11.
When we walk by the Spirit, we “are putting to death the deeds of the body”, and we live. Romans 8:13.
When we walk by the Spirit, “all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” Romans 8:14.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 