PERSISTENT PRAYER
Luke 11:8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of he man’s persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
Jesus disciples were asking Jesus about prayer and if he would teach them one like John the Baptist did for his disciples. Jesus gave them what we call the Lord’s prayer, but them added something very important but controversial. It concerns being persistent with our prayers. Many Christians believe that if we ask God more than once for something that it shows lack of faith. And Hebrews 11:6 it say, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. They believe that once is enough. Yet even in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed three different times the same prayer of asking his Heavenly Father if the cup could be taken from him! If praying a prayer more than once showed lack of faith and upsets God, then what does that say about Jesus who is divine himself? Well, it is obvious that there is nothing wrong with praying the same prayer several times to the Lord.
And the passage in Luke 11 and 18 both back this up. So when do we know when to stop praying about something? If it is not God’s will we certainly don’t want it, nor do we want to upset the Lord.
If at all possible we want to pray according to the the Lord’s will? We can find this out by reading his word. God will stay true to his word and his character. The Holy Spirit will also confirm God’s will in our heart. If we pray about something and we don’t have peace and expectation then maybe something is wrong. If we pray in persistence determined to change God’s will, then this is wrong too. We can pray in an expectation that says we really want something very much. There is nothing wrong with this.
Sometimes fasting helps in our commitment for praying about something. When we get hungry it helps remind us to seek the Heavenly Father's heart about the matter that is heavy on our heart. It is only wrong when we fast to make God do something. We wouldn’t like others to do this to us, and God doesn’t like it either. I think passionate prayer sounds better to me than just persistent prayer. Our prayer reflects our heart.
Jesus reinforces the idea that God wants to bless us. If our earthly father would want to bless us why wouldn’t our Heavenly Father? This is the way we need to pray, and that is with the idea that our Heavenly Father wants to bless us. It brings him joy to do it.
Ephesians 6:18 tells us to pray in the spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. The only prayer the Lord will not answer is the one we refuse to trust him with. James 4:2 reminds us that we have not because we ask not. God wants us to trust him. He will always answer with the best reply. Sometimes it may be no or wait, but it will always be the best answer. Trust in the Lord who loves you more that what you will ever understand.
Prayer: Lord, thank you that we can trust you with our prayers, and you will always answer them for our good and your glory. We love you Lord, and ask this in Jesus name.
