I once knew a man who attributed his marriage to a beautiful lady who was much younger than he was, to his ‘persistence’! Sounds funny, but Jesus told His disciples that they should be persistent in their prayers to also get what they want! As we meditate on this Scripture today, I believe that we will conclude that Jesus meant for us to also be persistent in our prayers. Since this is something that many of us depend on to survive in this cruel and sin-sick world, I believe that God will probably speak directly to our hearts today.

DATE POSTED Tuesday, 2021-08-24
WRITTEN AT: Hattiesburg, MS

BY: Ed Algreen

SCRIPTURE FROM: Luke 11:9-10
TRANSLATION: The Passion Translation (TPT)

BIBLE TEXT: 9–10 So it is with your prayers. Ask and you’ll receive. Seek and you’ll discover. Knock on heaven’s door, and it will one day open for you. Every persistent person will receive what he asks for. Every persistent seeker will discover what he needs. And everyone who knocks persistently will one day find an open door.

APPLICATION: I shared one example of persistence with you in the introduction, but there is yet another example that I must share with you. My wife and I had been trying every avenue available to us to help our daughter find a job. While at an upbeat, expensive restaurant one evening, we were so impressed at the great service from our young waiter that we asked him for tips on how he landed a job there. He attributed his success to ‘persistence’, for he not only gave the restaurant his resume and completed a job application, but he went there every day asking if a decision had been made yet. Think about the employer – they saw a persistent young man who wanted to work, and he wanted a job with them. For the young man – he didn’t have to worry about missing an email or a phone call, for he went to the employer every day, just like he already had a job there. Jesus used a similar example as he introduced this idea of persistent prayer to His disciples. In the verses immediately preceding our focal verses, Jesus told them that if they had reason to bother a neighbor late one night for food to feed their friends who popped in on them, the neighbor may not appreciate the disturbance after he had gone to bed, but if they kept on knocking, the neighbor would eventually get up and give them what they needed! There are times that we ask God for something, and then that very thing is given to us by a friend later that day, so we no longer need God’s help. But there are times that we are tempted to give up, because it seems like our prayers are hitting a solid ceiling and never reaching the ears of God. While we know that God not only hears our cry for help, He also knows our very thoughts. But He wants us to keep on asking, keep on knocking and keep on searching for a door to be opened. I know that it’s not because God is afraid that He would forget our request, but this need should give opportunity for us to face God each and every day until we receive His response. So don’t give up dear friend. Just as Jesus told His disciples to keep on asking, we should also keep on asking. I love, and would encourage you to use a prayer list. It helps me remember the individuals that I promised I would pray for. Hopefully I will never forget to pray for those on my list. I ask that God will help me to be persistent in my prayers until He sees fit to respond according to His perfect will. Why don’t you do the same dear friends?

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Thus saith the Word of God: Every persistent seeker will discover what he needs. And everyone who knocks persistently will one day find an open door.

PRAYER: Many needs exists today dear Lord, and it seems more important today than ever before that we be persistent in our prayers one for another. Lord, we know that You are in charge and that Your timetable of answering our prayers are different to our wish for immediate response. But You have instructed us to pray, and in today’s lesson, You have instructed us to pray without ceasing. Oh that we will be faithful in our prayers, just as we look forward to Your faithful response. Please help us to be a people who trust You with every aspect of our needful lives and to have faith in believing that You have Your best interest at heart when answering our prayers. Oh that You may be lifted up in response to our faithfulness, especially in prayer. AMEN!