Ideas on Prayer

Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this illustration: “Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You would shout up to him, ‘A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit and I’ve nothing to give him to eat.’ ⁷ He would call down from his bedroom, ‘Please don’t ask me to get up. The door is locked for the night and we are all in bed. I just can’t help you this time.’                                                                 

 “But I’ll tell you this—though he won’t do it as a friend, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you everything you want—just because of your persistence.  And so it is with prayer—keep on asking and you will keep on getting; keep on looking and you will keep on finding; knock and the door will be opened.  Everyone who asks, receives; all who seek, find; and the door is opened to everyone who knocks

Luke 11:5-10 (Living)

I always wondered about the need for persistence in prayer. We often approach God in desperation, pleading for His positive answer to our requests. God seems to be saying that we must be persistent in our prayers, but is that to change His mind or ours?  

I believe that persistence in prayer is not about changing God’s mind somehow. I think that might be the height of hubris- that this mere mortal, by his persistence, can change the mind of God.  I trust that God wants what is best for me regardless of my selfish requests. Prayer is about changing, or challenging, my mind on whatever I am requesting.

I think rather, that the discipline of talking with God hones our own spirit to be more in line with His Spirit. That prayer, because it is communication, is a way to get closer to God.

I think that is the point of prayer.

Prayer: Thank you for the access to you in simple prayer, Amen