| Persistence (Part 2) by Julie Hood |
Now that we know that we have to ask, what’s next?
Well, let me ask you how often do you give your kids something the first time they ask? Whether they want a bike, a scooter, a basket ball,
or a new outfit, do you always run out and buy it for them that very first time they asked for it? Maybe you do, but I did not.
My kids usually asked me 3,4, sometimes 20 times or more. (I was one that liked to buy them gifts for their birthday, Christmas or some
other special occasion). Giving them what they want every time they ask for something would, in my opinion, spoil them.
God is the best parent of all.
And sometimes He says “yes”, sometimes He says “no” and sometimes
He says “wait”.
I think the more persistent we are in prayer, like our children are when they keep asking us over, and over again, the more likely we are to
get that for which we have asked. No, we won’t always get everything no matter how many times we ask for it. Just as we would never
give our 3 years old a box of matches just because he was crying for it,
God would never give us something that He knows would not be good for us.
He loves us too much to allow our own selfish desires to get in the way of what’s really good for us. But many times persistence does pay
off. I remember how I prayed for years that my different family members would give their hearts to Christ, and slowly but surely they have
each come to make Jesus Lord of their lives. But they did not get saved the first time I asked God that they would.
I also believe that sometimes God delays our answers because He knows that the only time some people pray is when they need
something. I would hate for my kids to only talk to me when they needed something, would not you? I enjoy giving people gifts and I
believe God loves giving us the things we ask for.
“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!”
Matt. 7:11
Remember Christ’s story in Luke 11:5-8 says: Then He said to them,
"suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of
mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him." Then the one inside answers, "Don’t bother me.
The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 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 (persistence) he will get up and give him as much as
he needs.”
The application to prayer follows immediately in verses 9 & 10 where He says:
“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives;
he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
So go ahead, ask and keep on asking!
Well, let me ask you how often do you give your kids something the first time they ask? Whether they want a bike, a scooter, a basket ball,
or a new outfit, do you always run out and buy it for them that very first time they asked for it? Maybe you do, but I did not.
My kids usually asked me 3,4, sometimes 20 times or more. (I was one that liked to buy them gifts for their birthday, Christmas or some
other special occasion). Giving them what they want every time they ask for something would, in my opinion, spoil them.
God is the best parent of all.
And sometimes He says “yes”, sometimes He says “no” and sometimes
He says “wait”.
I think the more persistent we are in prayer, like our children are when they keep asking us over, and over again, the more likely we are to
get that for which we have asked. No, we won’t always get everything no matter how many times we ask for it. Just as we would never
give our 3 years old a box of matches just because he was crying for it,
God would never give us something that He knows would not be good for us.
He loves us too much to allow our own selfish desires to get in the way of what’s really good for us. But many times persistence does pay
off. I remember how I prayed for years that my different family members would give their hearts to Christ, and slowly but surely they have
each come to make Jesus Lord of their lives. But they did not get saved the first time I asked God that they would.
I also believe that sometimes God delays our answers because He knows that the only time some people pray is when they need
something. I would hate for my kids to only talk to me when they needed something, would not you? I enjoy giving people gifts and I
believe God loves giving us the things we ask for.
“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!”
Matt. 7:11
Remember Christ’s story in Luke 11:5-8 says: Then He said to them,
"suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of
mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him." Then the one inside answers, "Don’t bother me.
The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 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 (persistence) he will get up and give him as much as
he needs.”
The application to prayer follows immediately in verses 9 & 10 where He says:
“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives;
he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
So go ahead, ask and keep on asking!
@2007. Family Life Church. All Rights Reserved.
| Why Pray? Reasons (part 1) Believing (part 3) Praise & Worship (part 4) Praying The Word (part 5) Sowing & Reaping (part 6) Listening (part 7) When God Says No (part 8) Hindered Prayers (part 9) |
| 1 Thess. 5, 17 |
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