Thoughts on Day 43: Prayer is a powerful avenue we are given by God as a way to connect with Him. Like anything, it is on good if we use it. Many people will tell you that they will pray for you or a situation, but to take the time aside to actually pray is another story altogether. You generally know someone is praying for you when they gently bring it up in conversation. Not the bragging type, but someone who honestly cares and shows it in the way they communicate. You can tell they care and their actions match their words.
Day Forty-Three
Then he said, “Imagine what would happen if you went to a friend in the middle of the night and said, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread. An old friend travelling through just showed up, and I don’t have a thing on hand.’
“The friend answers from his bed, ‘Don’t bother me. The door’s locked; my children are all down for the night; I can’t get up to give you anything.’ “But let me tell you, even if he won’t get up because he’s a friend, if you stand your ground, knocking and waking all the neighbours, he’ll finally get up and get you whatever you need. “Here’s what I’m saying: Ask and you’ll get; Seek and you’ll find; Knock and the door will open. (Luke 11:5-9 MSG)
Jesus gave this story after teaching His disciples how to pray. In it He shows us two principles of prayer.
Ever hear some teaching on claim your prayers? They will say your prayers weren’t answered because you prayed them too much and your faithlessness surrounding God answered it wasn’t there? This story teaches to be persistent in your prayers to the Father. If you need it, then keep asking for it. Don’t stop. Persisting in pray will let God know how important it is Your life. If my kids asked me for a swimming pool, but only asked once, would I think they really needed one? But if they kept at me, every day, drawing me pictures, and expressing their need over and over, day after day, I might just get them a pool.
The other thing I see in this story is the man was only asking for what he needed. He asked for three loaves of bread go feed his friend a probably his family. The man could have started making a specific request for speciality items, meat, veggies or whatever else. But he went straight to the point and asked for just what he needed to get the job done. Are we asking for more than we need? Would we be satisfied with less but asking for way more than we need?
Dear Jesus, help us to learn to ask, seek and knock more. Help us to be persistent in prayer. Show us how to be satisfied with what we receive. Maybe sometimes we don’t see our prayers answered because You give us what we need and not exactly what we asked for. I ask Jesus that You provide me what I need. Amen
50 Days of Pray 