As you try praying, especially when you find yourself in a tight spot, keep asking for what you need in prayer.
Keep Asking in Prayer
Imagine what would happen if you went to a friend in the middle of the night and said, “Can you lend me some bread. Someone has just turned up and I don’t have anything to give him.” But your friend answers, “Don’t bother me; we’re all in bed. The door is locked, the children are asleep; I can’t get up and give you anything.”
But if you show some nerve and keep knocking, risking waking the neighbours, even if he won’t get up because he is your friend, he’ll finally get up and give you whatever you need because of your persistence.
This scene was described by Jesus centuries ago. He was really talking about prayer: “Here’s what I am saying: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Jesus then went on to say this: “Which of you fathers, if your
son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
When we find ourselves in a tight spot we should keep on praying believing God gives good things. So ask!
We don’t have to be in a mess to ask for help but so often it’s when we really call out to God that he meets us.
I was a nobody, but I prayed, and the Lord saved me from all my troubles.
Something you can do today…
Try Praying
Pray in your own words or use the following prayer. “God I want to understand this idea of persistence. I need you to do something in a number of areas of my life. So I’m asking you to give answers. And I’m choosing to believe you are good and you only give good things.”
Stone
Carry a stone with you and every time you put your hand on it pray, “God, I want you to be the solid thing in my life.”
Keep Praying For
• Your big issue – the area in your life where you most want God to work.
• Others – your friend or family member who needs help – perhaps especially with the idea of finding meaning to life.
How Do We Pray?
Praying isn’t just for the religious. Most people admit to praying at some time in their life even if they have given up on it later.
Jesus prayed. He seemed to have access to God like no one else. He was always doing miracles and teaching about life. But he also spent much time in prayer and taught about it. What did he say?
He said that faith was a crucial ingredient. He always responded to faith. On one occasion he said, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours.” Prayer is not simply about the words we say it’s about what we are thinking on the inside.
Jesus also said that forgiveness was important. “And whenever you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them so that your Father in heaven may forgive you.” Forgiveness is a kind of currency.
If we use it in our relationship with others then we will have it in our relationship with God.
Another ingredient is to keep going. He gave many illustrations about this: a woman keeping on at a magistrate until he granted her request; a friend banging on the door at midnight until he got what he needed. It seems that praying for something until we get it is what God invites us to do. Giving up at the first set back is not an option.
We have to be willing to accept God’s answers when they come which of course can be “yes”, “no” or “wait”. Submitting our lives to his will is really the best thing for us. Praying with others and in harmony with them are other principles.
Perhaps we should check that there is nothing in our lives which offends God. If we cling to wrong doing in an area of our life then he will not hear our prayer. We can’t claim to know God and live a life which
is inconsistent with that relationship.
But the foundation for all prayer is knowing God in a personal way. That is what Jesus has made possible.
Ask and it will be given to you.
© There is Hope 2015.
Read the Other Posts in the Trypraying Series
You can read the other posts in our trypraying series as they are published here:
Find out more
You can find out more about trypraying basingstoke 2019 by reading this post.
You can also follow us on social media, where we will be posting about trypraying every day between 1-18 June 2019:
You can visit the website trypraying.co.uk which also gives access to the trypraying app and other useful articles.
You could attend the trypraying basingstoke prayer event being held at London Street URC on Sunday 9 June 2019 from 6:30-8:30pm. You’d be most welcome.
Or you can contact OneChurch Basingstoke direct, using the form on our Contact page.
What have you got to lose?
Pick up your free booklet from the train station or a church near you. God wants to hear from you!
