What does Luke 11:9 mean?

Jesus' disciples have asked Him to teach them to pray. He does so in a way that will provide for their needs when they go out and spread the message that the kingdom of God is near (Luke 9:1–6; 10:1–11). He then tells them a parable about how a friend will fill an inconvenient request if the request is persistent and annoying (Luke 11:1–8).

Now, Jesus explains that God is happy to give the disciples what they need. The man asked his friend for bread, he sought help to fulfill his responsibility to be hospitable to his guest, and he knocked on the door. If Jesus' followers do the same to God, He will graciously meet our needs. This does not mean that God will automatically give us anything we want, simply because we want it.

If we ask, God will provide; if we knock, God will open the door. If we seek, He will allow us to find what we need. Too often, people ask God for blessings but don't make the effort to look up and see them. Their minds may hold an extremely specific idea of what they need, but that idea may be counter to the better things God wants to give them. Or they may be so distraught and downcast they can't see any good at all. We need to have the attitude of Paul who sees God's blessings in feast and famine (Philippians 4:11–13).