Thoughts for the Day

Jesus said to them, ‘Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, “Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.” And he answers from within, “Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.” I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.

‘So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!’

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

I like to persevere and not give up, which can be a fault, but I also prefer not to start things that I am pretty sure are out of my remit in life. So when doing my 11 plus exam all those years ago I completed all the English language questions and only then did one two of the easy maths questions. I knew my limitations! As children we can grow up to be fairly selfish with an "I want" attitude, but this lesson of knowing limitations can be applied in another way, when children stop asking for the latest gadgets for their birthday, knowing that their parents simply cannot afford them.

However, in today's teaching from scripture Jesus doesn't say "Don't ask for something you know is impossible", instead he urges his disciples to persevere in their prayer and absolutely not to give up. The difference with perseverance and God is that He doesn't say "Stop asking for the moon!" He doesn't say "It's too big a request!" To the contrary he says even the neighbour asleep in his loft with his family around him will disturb them to get up and help you, if you keep on knocking persistently on his door. So ask for what you need, search for what is required, and continue knocking on that door to make your request.

But does that mean we should continue to pray for a glass of lemon juice to be given us when the steward on the plane only has cups of orange juice on his tray? No, of course not! That's a bit like rubbing an Aladdin's lamp and wasting a wish when the Genii is summoned - we shouldn't waste our requests. Neither should we second guess God by offering a solution! God's plans for those for whom we pray may be different to ours, and ultimately His plans for them and for us will always be the best ones. What we do need to do is to persevere with our prayers and always try to mould them to fit His answers.

Lord Jesus Christ,
You taught Your disciples to persevere
in their prayers to God.
May we too learn the lesson of perseverance,
not wasting our prayers selfishly,
but continually praying for our world
and its people
as may be best for them,
confident in the knowledge that You will hear us,
and will answer them.
Amen.