Lord Teach Us to Pray

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples." 

- Luke 11:1

What must it have been like to see Jesus pray to the Father? A man of no sin, with perfect knowledge of God because He himself was God. The intimacy and union He must have displayed; the hours His disciples saw Him in constant prayer...I really can't imagine. Jesus taught His disciples many things that day, including what we refer to as "The Lord's Prayer". But He also offered very important encouragement:

“So I say to you: 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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

- Luke 11:9-10

In the original text, the Greek words for 'ask', 'seek' and 'knock' mean continuing or repeated action. So the text says: "Ask and keep on asking and it shall be given to you; seek and keep on seeking and you will find; knock and keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you."

Think about something or someone you have been  praying for. We lift up people to God, along with our fears, worries, desires and dreams for them in hopes that He will respond. And He does, but often not in our timing. Ask and keep on asking. God wants to see our repetition and eagerness. Seek and keep on seeking. Knock and keep on knocking. He wants us to pursue Him. To pursue His will. To pursue His power. The Lord is patient and always working things out for the good of those who love Him. He is consistently weaving, molding and crafting His people. Softening the hardened hearts and opening blind eyes. Preparing the unbeliever to hear truth and receive grace.

Be persistent in prayer. These were Jesus' words. We can trust His advice on prayer because He now sits at the right hand of God the father, interceding on our behalf. He must be proud when He sees His followers heeding the advice He shared with His disciples so long ago! And He promises that if we are persistent, what we ask will be given to us. We will find what we seek. The door will be opened to us.

Don't lose hope on the people you have been praying for. Maybe years have passed, and you have begun to believe that nothing will change in their hearts. But Jesus didn't say 'Ask and keep on asking until you lose hope. Seek and keep on seeking until you tire of it. Knock and keep on knocking until you decide there must not be any one on the other side of the door.' Prayer is powerful and Jesus hears each one. Those people in your life who need help, who need hope, who need Jesus...lift them up to Him. He hears you. And He smiles upon  the relentless, undaunted, audacity of the prayer warrior.

Who will you pray for today?