Be persistent in our prayer life

1 Peter 3:12 (ESV)

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,

    and his ears are open to their prayer.

But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.

Here is a short illustration that I believe will bless each of you.

“Teacher”, said a young boy, “why is it that so many prayers are unanswered? I do not understand. The Bible says, ‘Ask, and you shall receive; seek, and you shall find; knock and the door shall be opened unto you.’ But it seems to me a great many knock and are not admitted.

The teacher answered, “Did you ever sit by your fireplace on some dark evening and hear a loud knocking at the door? Going to answer the knock, have you not sometimes looked out in the darkness, seeing nothing, but hearing the pattering feet of some mischievous boy, who knocked but did not wish to enter, and therefore ran away? It is often so with us. We ask for blessings but do not really expect them. We knock but do not mean to enter. We fear that Jesus will not hear us, will not fulfill His promises, will not admit us. And so we go way.”

“Ah I see,” said the boy, his eyes shining with the new light dawning in his soul. “Jesus can’t be expected to answer runaway knocks. He has never promised it. I mean to keep knocking and knocking until He can’t help opening the door.”

Let's become persistent in our prayer life and expect God to open the door!

Dear Lord, help us be persistent in our prayers. Help us to be faithful as we call upon Your Name. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

The Persistent Bee

Luke 18:1 (NIV)

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

We are told that a red clover blossom contains less than one-eighth of a grain of sugar. Yet seven thousands of these grains are required to make a pound of honey. Therefore, a bee must visit 56,000 clover heads to get enough sugar for a pound of honey. But, there are about sixty flower tubes to each clover head. So the bee performs that operation 3,360,000 times to get enough sweetness for a single pound!

The truth is, most things worth doing take a great deal of determination and plain dogged persistence.

Clarence A. Barbour exclaimed, "Great things take time. Moral and spiritual changes are more difficult to be reached than material changes. It is harder to fashion a soul than it is to fashion a body. The kingdom which Christ establishes is a kingdom of free men, convinced in mind, moved in heart, definitely committed in will to the good; and that comes slowly."

So why do we often lack the persistence to keep at our spiritual tasks when difficulties interrupt our progress? Why are we shocked to discover that there are few significant spiritual goals that are instantaneously obtained."

It is said that a behavior or attitude practiced continuously for thirty days results in a new life style. May we practice being committed to our Heavenly Father.

Dear Lord, keep us persistent in practicing our faith and committed to doing good, in Jesus' Name, Amen.