Don’t  Stop Asking

Don’t  Stop Asking

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”

Matthew 7:7

Bible Reading: Luke 18:1-8

As a child, I recall asking my mother for a particular brand of biscuit since it was sold close to her work place and not at the local store near to us. She came back with a response of ‘ Oh I forgot dear’ which didn’t sit well with me, so I made it a duty to remind her daily till she got it. Well when I got the biscuits , she sighed and said ‘Thank God, I can finally have a breath space every morning’. As adults, we have allowed ourselves to believe “if I ask and don’t receive a response, I’ll ask for another thing”. This cankerworm has eaten deep even to our spiritual life.

Today’s Bible reading is the parable of the persistent widow who faced the same situation but never gave up.  Jesus Christ told His disciples the story of a widow that sought justice from a judge who neither feared God or cared about men. Although the judge ignored her at the onset, she persistently visited him with her request. When the judge saw that she was not going to give up, he listened to her and gave her the justice she deserved. Don’t give up! God‚’s word has an answer for everything.

Jesus’s parable teaches us to be persistent. Let our asking, seeking and knocking be characterized by persistency        ( equals Consistency plus Faith and Action).Jesus admonishes us to pray and not to faint. One of the goals of being persistent is that it helps us build a relationship that is reliable and cordial as well as help our focus. If you want to ruin a relationship, stop communicating. When we constantly pray to God, we are deepening our relationship with Him. Thus, how long should we pray for something? Keep praying and pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Let your attitude be right, impatience is short-sightedness because God answers prayers in His timing, in His way and for His purpose. Perseverance may bring unexpected blessings.

Self-Reflection: Impersistence may deny one of God’s blessings and answer to prayer that one desires.

Action Point: Pray without ceasing, keep asking with focus and persistence until your joy is full.

Daily Confession: Lord, I thank you for your goodness and your grace upon me in every way. I receive grace to be persistent and  to pray without ceasing. Lord,I ask for direction on what to pray about so my persistence is not on what is not in line with your will for me.

Hymn: What a Friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit,

O what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer!