Persistence in Prayer

One of (Jesus’) disciples said to him, Lord, teach us to pray as John also taught his disciples. -Luke 11:1

Apparently, the disciples were impressed by Jesus’ prayer life because He got results. So they asked Him to teach them how to pray. Jesus first taught the Lord’s Prayer. Then He shared another key to prayer:

And he said to them, Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him?      Luke 11:5,6

What is bread? Well, when the woman of Canaan in Matthew 15 asked for healing for her daughter, Jesus called healing the children’s bread. (v 26) So in this parable, when the man asked for three loaves of bread, he could have been asking for healing for his friend.

And he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’? “I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.       Luke 11:7,8

Jesus said the man finally gave the bread to the petitioner because of his persistence. The Amplified Bible says, “because of his shameless persistence and insistence…”

Do you know someone with a need who can’t seem to make contact with God for himself? You can go into the presence of God on his behalf. God will hear your persistent prayers and provide your friend with exactly what he needs—the children’s bread of healing.

CONFESSION:

I boldly go to my Father on behalf of another, and my Father gives me what I ask for in faith. I am persistent to ask and to believe God will answer because healing is the children’s bread.

From: A Devotional for Divine Health Prescription for a Miracle, Mark Brazee, 1999