I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence. Luke 11:8 NABRE
After teaching a prayer Jesus provides further instruction on prayer. Jesus tells of a neighbor going to his neighbor in the middle of the night asking for bread because guests have arrived late and he has nothing to feed them. The interrupted neighbor won’t come to the door, everyone in his house is in bed. Jesus tells us if the needy neighbor persist he will get what he wants, not because of friendship, because of persistence. This of course addresses how we should ask God for what we need. God will respond like the neighbor if we persist in prayer asking continuously. This teaching on praying with persistence expects God to hear and answer prayer. Jesus tells a similar story in the gospel of Luke with a persistent widow who gets a just judgement because she does not stop going to the judge, he would rather give her what she wants then see her in front of him again and again or even have her strike him, (see Luke 18:5). I have often heard we cannot change God’s mind with begging or more emotional prayer, but I think Jesus is trying to tell us that if we want something from God we should be sincere in our need. Sincerity is shown in persistence and dedicated reaching out to God.
We all have needs and desires and God does what is best for us and others in life. We can always expect God will respond to our needs in our best interest. But living with a need, and praying on that need consciously will bring us closer to God and lead to recognition of God’s answer. With God it is not always yes or no, God is in relationship with us perpetually and thus His response keeps the long view in mind.
Are you persistent in praying to God? Do you expect certain answers in prayer?
With God it is not always yes or no, God is in relationship with us perpetually and thus His response keeps the long view in mind. Click To Tweet#bible #godisgreat #jesus #christianity #dailybibleverse @youversion #BeAnEncourager #persist #sincere #Luke #everybodyalways #god #jesuschrist #jesussaves #godisgood #dailydevotion #biblestudy #scripture #bibleverse #verseoftheday #cross #last #gospels #loveeachother #godisgreat #thisVineyard #youversion #everythingalways