HOST: Michael Whitworth
And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs.
“Because of his imprudence…” Some have asked if it is wrong to pray about the same thing repeatedly, to petition God over and over concerning the same situation. “Doesn’t it show a lack of faith?” some want to know. This little parable gives the answer to that question. Jesus is teaching a lesson about the persistence in prayer that God desires for us to demonstrate. But don’t misunderstand the meaning of this parable. In the story, it appears that the friend, who initially refused the borrower’s request, eventually grants the request because of the continual bothering of the borrower. Does that mean that God is, at first, hesitant to answer our prayers, but might be willing to grant our petitions if we pester Him enough? Not at all! God is never bothered by our prayers, nor is He hesitant to answer. The meaning of this teaching is simply that God desires our persistence in prayer. He wants to hear from us over and over again. He wants us to rely upon Him and to pray to Him “without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). For it is in prayer that we find the comfort and solace that only God can provide.
Why do you think that God has such a desire for us to pray to Him?
Don’t forget to pray and have a great day!
