Persistent in Prayer

    Suggested Bible Reading

    And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.' And he answers from within, 'Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.' I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs. "So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" -Luke 11:5-13 (NRSV)

Today's Scripture

Jesus said, "I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs." -Luke 11:8 (NIV)

ONE day as my friend and I sat eating by a lake, a family and their lovely black Labrador retriever appeared. They had come to enjoy the beauty of the lake too. Their dog found a stick and then made it very clear that he wanted it thrown into the lake so he could fetch and have a swim at the same time. The dog kept following the man and placing the stick at his feet. Then the dog would run back and forth between the man and the lake. When that did not work, the dog stood on his back legs and gently placed his front paws on the man's legs. In desperation, the dog began to bark, and finally his master responded. Boldness and persistence worked.

As the scripture passage tells us, boldness also works in human relationships. The persistent friend finally gets what he needs. Watching the dog's persistence and boldness that afternoon made me think: Should I not be just as persistent and bold when praying for friends and family? Verse 9 of Luke 11 says, "Knock and the door will be opened to you." The model that scripture offers is being persistent and bold in our praying. Janet Walker (Buckinghamshire, England)

Prayer
Dear Father God, help us to keep praying and to keep reaching out in love to those around us. Amen.

Thought for the Day: Never, never, never give up. Keep praying.

Prayer Focus: Someone always in my prayers