v. 1 what does it mean to "always" pray. I probably wouldn't know except the Lord has allowed me to encounter men who understands this. My friend Joe is one such guy. When others mention some concern - he never says, "I'm going to pray for you." He just starts praying! He doesn't write down request - he just prays them. After a while around Joe you realize that he acts as if God is right next to him and he's just talking to him - asking him to do only what God can do all the time! After a while you then begin to realize - God is near us - in us and this lifestyle of prayer isn't as weird as it sounds!
The rest of this passage makes me think how many times I quit praying and how many times I quit too early. It also makes me wonder why would God do this? Why wouldn't he just give us what we need the first time. Matthew 7 says he knows what we need and He's a good father - why even make us ask?
The key is to understand the Father wants relationship. Our biggest barrier to right relationship with God is our trust issues. God wants to show us he's trustworthy. Someone who just gives us everything we ask for the first time isn't doing us any favors - that's called spoiling your child!
If God is good and God is love there must be something very specific that the continued asking does for us. He wouldn't put us through it if it didn't somehow build our trust in Him
questions
1) What is something you have asked God for and not received? Have you given up?
2) When have you perceived your persistence pay off?
3) Do you have a regular prayer time and prayer list? Does this passage challenge you to make one?
4) What might a father be doing in his children to help them grow up by making them continually ask for their needs and desires?
prayer
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