Be Persistent in Prayer
“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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Luke 11:9-10)
The eleventh chapter of Luke records a conversation between Jesus and His disciples, after the disciples had asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. His instruction to them has become one of the most commonly used Scriptures when talking about prayer. Jesus says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Luke 11:9)
The Greek language used in the original text of this passage literally translates to “keep on asking, keep on knocking, and keep on seeking.” In other words, be persistent! Don’t just ask one time and move on. Continue praying and asking for the desires of your heart.
Think about a little child at Christmas time. When there is a certain toy he wants, he doesn’t just ask his parents for it one time. He asks for it constantly. Every time a commercial for the toy pops up on TV, the child points it out. Every time the child walks by the toy in a store, he makes sure his parents notice. Every time someone asks the child what he wants for Christmas, he mentions that specific toy. He shows this kind of persistence, not out of a desire to be annoying or because he doesn’t think his parents heard him the first time, but because the toy is important to the child.
Naturally, we are more persistent when something is important to us. Our prayers should be no different. When something is important, when we have a strong desire in our hearts, or when something is weighing heavily on us, we should be praying about it. God hears every single one of our prayers. He is attentive when you talk to Him, and He wants to answer your prayers for your good and for His glory. Accordingly, don’t just pray for something once and give up. Pray continuously, consistently, and persistently!
The eleventh chapter of Luke records a conversation between Jesus and His disciples, after the disciples had asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. His instruction to them has become one of the most commonly used Scriptures when talking about prayer. Jesus says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Luke 11:9)
The Greek language used in the original text of this passage literally translates to “keep on asking, keep on knocking, and keep on seeking.” In other words, be persistent! Don’t just ask one time and move on. Continue praying and asking for the desires of your heart.
Think about a little child at Christmas time. When there is a certain toy he wants, he doesn’t just ask his parents for it one time. He asks for it constantly. Every time a commercial for the toy pops up on TV, the child points it out. Every time the child walks by the toy in a store, he makes sure his parents notice. Every time someone asks the child what he wants for Christmas, he mentions that specific toy. He shows this kind of persistence, not out of a desire to be annoying or because he doesn’t think his parents heard him the first time, but because the toy is important to the child.
Naturally, we are more persistent when something is important to us. Our prayers should be no different. When something is important, when we have a strong desire in our hearts, or when something is weighing heavily on us, we should be praying about it. God hears every single one of our prayers. He is attentive when you talk to Him, and He wants to answer your prayers for your good and for His glory. Accordingly, don’t just pray for something once and give up. Pray continuously, consistently, and persistently!
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