Keep on asking

 Keep on Asking

 

Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

You fathers — if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.

LUKE 11.9-13

 

“Please, mum! Pretty please?!” This is how little kids plead with their parents when there is something they want and think they need. And sometimes children keep repeating their requests, hoping to break down Mum or Dad’s resistance and turn a no into yes.

When we read Jesus’ teaching on prayer and his encouragement to “keep on asking,” we might be tempted to think that the secret formula for getting what we want from God is to wear him down by repeating the request. Or maybe we think that the secret is to get as many people as possible to ask God for it. We think, Surely if enough people are praying, God will give us what we’re asking for. But does God respond to repetition or group pressure?

Most parents don’t want their kids to wear them down by repeating requests over and over. What they want is to have a conversation. And that’s how it is with our heavenly Parent. He loves us and he cares about our needs. And while he values and invites our persistence in prayer, maybe he’s saying, “Don’t just pound on the door of heaven repeating your same request, refusing to listen to me. Come in and talk to me. Share your heart with me, and let me share mine with you.” Prayer is about a two-way conversation with God, not about wearing him down to get what we want. Asking, seeking, and knocking have little to do with getting what we want from God and everything to do with enjoying the Spirit in our lives.