Persistent Prayer

Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

Matthew 7:7-8

CHILDREN TEND TO PRAY much more openly and honestly than adults. Children say what’s on their minds; they ask for what they want. They don’t dress up their words or have preconceived notions of what they should want. Their motives aren’t always perfect, but our infinitely wise heavenly Father loves that they ask.

We could learn a lot about true prayer simply by watching how our children do it. Unfiltered and unashamed. Not overly formal, not based on perceived performance. They just ask, and so should we. Even though our motives aren’t always pure, God has extended to us the great invitation to ask, seek, and knock. He wants to bless us, but we must ask and then look for His answers. When answers don’t seem to be coming, He says we should keep on asking!

Prayer is talking to God and listening to Him through His Word. It is an ongoing conversation with our Creator, who wants to meet our needs and convey guidance and love to us. “Never stop praying,” we’re told in 1 Thessalonians 5:17. Keep in mind that prayer is relational more than it is transactional—it’s more about getting to know our heavenly Father than it is about trying to get things from Him. That’s not to say that He doesn’t want to answer our prayers and bless us—He does—but the greatest blessing of all is to get to know Him better and become more like Jesus.

BOTTOM LINE

How is your prayer life? Do you expect great things from God through prayer? Do you pray with confidence? You can! Keep praying, and don’t give up.

Moment of Strength: Matthew 19:13-14