All good sermons include illustrations—Jesus’ sermon here does too. In Luke 11:5-8, a man knocks at his companion’s door asking for bread so that he may fulfill the hospitable opportunity. The friend refuses because of the time; however, because of the man’s “importunity” (persistence) the man eventually grants the desire. Comparingly, God often grants petitions in this way.
God does not grow weary by continual pleading; in fact, He welcomes it. It is essential then that we always pray (Ephesians 6:18) and never stop (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Paul told the Colossians to “Continue in prayer” (Colossians 4:2) and the Romans to continue instant in prayer (Romans 12:12). The man in Jesus’ illustration did not arise and give bread to the friend until after his persistency. God may withhold answers to prayers until He sees that we are serious about a request. Perhaps this is what Jesus did with the Canaanite woman (Matthew 15:22-27). Such effort in requesting shows “great…faith” (Matthew 15:28). Praying persistently can be practiced by:
Asking God for the same thing repeatedly.
Thanking God for the same blessings.
Praying for the things that seem to be unanswered.
We should remember to pray for daily things daily and weekly things weekly. Jesus also used the present tense when He commanded His disciples to ask, seek, and knock (Luke 11:9). How many hours we spend in prayer may declare to God how much we trust, care, and desire our requests. We should not become weary in prayer but remember to be persistent like the widow (Luke 18:1-8). Saying the same prayer and asking for the same things is allowed (Matthew 26:44). One prayed, “O Lord, give me grace to feel my need of Thy grace! Give me grace to ask for Thy grace! Give me grace to receive Thy grace! And when in Thy grace Thou hast given me grace, give me grace to use Thy grace!”[1] Jacob Riis observed the power of persistency when he said, “I look at a stone cutter hammering away at a rock a hundred times without so much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the 101st blow it splits in two. I know it was not the one blow that did it, but all that had gone before.”[2]
Endnotes
[1]Biblical Illustrator.
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