Persistence
When you pray, do you persist in prayer?
Jesus told a story to illustrate the importance of persistence in prayer to God.
Man #1
A man needs a bed for the night… where to turn? The motels/hotels are full… need a bed to sleep… so tired! He thinks of a friend who will not turn him away. He finds the house and knocks on the door… he is invited in and welcomed.
Man #2
A friend comes at midnight and needs a bed! This man is aware of his friend’s need… he also needs food. This friend is hungry. Looking in the cupboards and refrigerator… oops… no bread, not enough food to serve. What to do? What to do? He thinks of a friend who always has food in abundance! Even at this late hour, he knows this friend has just what is needed.
Man #3
Ah, the bed feels so good after a busy day. The kids are in bed and probably asleep.
He hears pounding on his front door. Now who could that be in the middle of the night? ‘Go away!’ ‘We are trying to sleep!’ The pounding persists. ‘Okay, okay, I’m comin’!’
Grumbling all the way to the door, he opens it and sees his friend. What is going on? ‘Go home, we are trying to sleep. It’s in the middle of the night!’ ‘You want bread? At this hour? You’re crazy! Go home.’ His friend isn’t getting the message! ‘If I’m to get any sleep, I guess I’ll give him the three loaves of bread… I do have enough to give him.’
God is open to our prayers. He has the answers to our prayers. Jesus said we are to persist in asking God for our needs and the needs of others. Be persistent in your prayers in accordance with God’s words in the Holy Bible.
~ Take it to heart ~
NASB Luke 11:9-10 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
10 ‘For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened.’”
ASK! With persistence.
SEEK! With persistence.
KNOCK! With persistence.