Shameless Persistence

^5 “Then, teaching them more about prayer, He [Jesus] used this story: “Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, ⁶ ‘A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.’ ⁷ And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can’t help you.’ ⁸ But I tell you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.^”

⁹ “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”

Luke 11:5-10 New Living Translation (NLT)

In today’s contextual Scripture reading, a parable, Jesus talks about shameless persistence. That is, praying for what you need, against all odds, with sublime fortitude and perseverance. You have to ask God for what you need to receive it in His special time and way. This parable tells us that we need to knock on God’s door through prayer, and in His time, He will give us what we need through His grace and our persistence. That does not mean we get everything we want or desire, but rather that God will provide according to His Divine Will for each of us. There is great peace that comes when one trusts in God in turbulent times. Yes, we have to do our part, too, like seeking medical attention for a physical or mental health issue. For God will often use others to help us. But in addition to that, trusting God quells anxiety and depression that can easily settle in when turbulence strikes.

Some people question the very existence of God, so they do not acknowledge Him and are highly unlikely to ask Him for help in times of need. For them, there can be a deep-rooted sense that they are self-made; that God is a non-existent entity. The reality is, whether we acknowledge Him or not, no one knows us better than our Creator, the Author of Life, who knew us long before we were born. And He has given us Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, Eternal Gatekeeper, Healer, Comforter, Protector, and Friend to meet all our needs at any given time.

Belief in God is central to asking for what we need in prayer. Yet, how can we ask for help if we are unwilling to acknowledge God in some way in our lives? All of us at some time come up against a seemingly insurmountable walls in our lives. The Bible tells us that Jesus invited ALL people to come to Him—believers and unbelievers alike–especially the weary and burdened. Just come!

It is during those times that we are able to trust God a little more, to grow in faith, and put aside our unbelief. It is during challenging times we are able to grow spiritually and begin or continue to trust in God’s saving power in other areas of our lives. That is exactly the point when we can shamelessly persevere in asking for whatever we need in our daily lives. So go on, take a chance and ask God for whatever you need today. No prayer is too great or small. Through Jesus Christ, God has made Himself accessible to us all! Keep knocking and He will give you whatever you need!

“If you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.^{” 9} “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for.”  Luke 11:8-9

© Copyright 2018 Adele M. Gill