Persistence Pays Off

"Lord, teach us how to pray!"  (Luke 11:1) The disciples are in awe of Christ's prayer life.  They want to pray just like Him, so they ask this simple thing.  He gave them the Lord's prayer as an example and then continues with the story of the man who wakes his friend in the middle of the night for loaves of bread.  The sleeping man does not want to get up, but because his friend is persistent, he gets up and gives him the bread.  "Ask!" Jesus tells us.  If we don't receive, it's because we haven't asked. 

When I first read this, I was taken aback.  On the surface it appears as though Jesus is saying, God doesn't want to answer your prayers because you're a bother, so be persistent and He will eventually answer (if only to get you to be quiet).  Seriously! It's what it sounds like.  But if you really look, what He is saying is God does want to answer you prayers, but He wants you to ask!  God LOVES spending time with His children.  He loves communicating with us and giving us good things.  Jesus tells us numerous stories of God's love for His children throughout the New Testament.  One cannot deny that He wants to be the center of our lives and wants only good for us. 

By being persistent in our prayers we are learning to understand our true needs as well.  We learn to express ourselves and we learn how important the things we ask for are to us.  The persistence is for our sake, not for God's sake.  He already set in motion the answer to your prayer, before you even uttered it.  Therefore, in our persistence, we will recognize God's work as it happens.  We will better appreciate what He is doing.  Just as a good father wants only the best for his children, our Heavenly Father wants even greater for us. 

Thank you, Lord, for knowing my needs before I do.  Thank you for teaching me to ask and for helping me to learn what is important in this life.  You are truly worthy of all praise.  Amen