Persistent Prayer
Prayer is the greatest thing we can accomplish. It is the strongest way of connection we have with the authority and power of God. Scriptures repeatedly teach us the importance of prayer, so it is no wonder why Jesus’ disciples asked him to teach them to pray. Andrew Murray (1896) noted that Jesus spoke in greater detail and urgency when it came to prayer than he did to preaching saying, “To know how to speak to God is more than knowing how to speak to man.” In fact, Ephesians 6:18 commands that we should be “praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.”
Matthew’s account of the giving of what we now call The Lord’s Prayer, gives us even more insight into the how we should pray. In Matthew 6:5-8, before teaching his disciples the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus said, “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for you Father knows what you need before you ask Him.”
Let us pair Christ’s teaching on the simplicity of prayer with today’s reading which speaks of a man who bangs on his friend’s door until that friend finally opens up and gives him what he asks for. At first glance, we may think these two teachings stand at odds with one another. One says ‘don’t use a lot of words’, the other ‘don’t give up’. Though they may seem contradictory, they actually compliment each other. God wants an honest conversation with us. He knows what we need before we ask, but He still wants us to ask. He still wants the conversation. When we heap on a bunch of flowery words we lose the intimacy of that exchange. God wants us to be real. There is no magic sequencing of words that open locked doors. God’s will always prevails. Prayer moves our heart into line with His will, not the other way around. That’s the beauty of it. As David Guzik (2022) explains, “God often waits for our passionate persistence in prayer. It isn’t that God is reluctant and needs to be persuaded. Our persistence doesn’t change God; it changes us, developing in us a heart and passion for what God wants.”
There may be nothing magical in the words we say as we bow to pray, but there is definitely something life changing in the conversation. Prayer reminds us just who we are and who our God is. Notice that Jesus began his prayer for the disciples with “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.” Putting God and His will first settles everything else into the right place. It reminds us whose will is going to prevail, and it changes our view of our requests. Prayers are powerful. Let me leave you with this picture of prayer found in Acts 10:3-4. “About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, ‘Cornelius.’ And he stared at him in terror and said, ‘What is it, Lord?’ And he said to him, ‘Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.” Also, Psalm 141:1-2 says, “O Lord, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you! Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!” Our prayer will not bounce off the ceiling and go unnoticed in heaven. It is a sweet perfume which draws our Heavenly Father to our cause. Sometimes He responds by changing our situation and other times by changing us. Either way, He is listening. Cry out in sincerity and know you are loved and heard.
(Written by Keegan Harkins.)
References:
Guzik, D. (6/2022). Study Guide for Luke 11 by David Guzik. Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/guzik_david/study-guide/luke/luke-11.cfm
Murray, Andrew "Lord, Teach Us to Pray" (Philadelphia: Henry Altemus, 1896)
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