A Prayer about Persistent Prayer
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
Matthew 7:7
Good Father,
What a gift you have given us in prayer.
We are timid and doubtful
and rarely dare to ask or seek or knock
for the things we really need or want,
and yet, you command us to do just that.
The Greek words, “ask,” “seek,” “knock”
would be better translated,
“Keep on asking,”
“Keep on seeking,”
“Keep on knocking….”
You want us to ask again and again and again…
for you to transform that stubborn way
we have of judging others into a gentle spirit
that assumes the best.
You want us to seek your face
again and again and again…
when we don’t understand
why our child has to suffer with cancer
or a learning disability
or mental illness
or loneliness.
You want us to knock again and again and again…
pleading with you to break down the walls
that divide our world,
begging you to put an end to all wars.
urging you to display your justice on this earth.
You have shown us that you are indeed a “good Father”
who gives good gifts to your children.
So today, we ask, we seek, we knock.
[Name some things you’d like to ask your Father for].
In Jesus’ promise-keeping name. Amen.
Read Matthew 7:7-11.