“And so I tell you, 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.”
LUKE 11:9–10
Ed battled a rare blood disorder. Lying in his hospital bed, he listened as his doctor explained there was nothing more he could do medically. “You need to get your affairs in order,” he said gently. Pastors and prayer ministers from his church came. They prayed over him and held prayer vigils. He went through his Bible, pulling out every promise of God that countered what the doctor had said. He wrote the scriptures on sticky notes and tacked them all around his hospital room. He wrote them on note cards and declared them over and over. The doctor still insisted, “You need to get your affairs in order.” One by one, the prayer ministers dropped off their watch. Many thought he was in denial. “You need to get your affairs in order,” they said. He continued to pray and stand in faith. Only a few remained who stood in agreement with him. Like a pit bull fighting for a piece of steak, he would not let go of God’s promises. He prayed fervently. He persisted. In the end, he walked out of the hospital with his affairs untouched. He was healed.
To encourage His disciples to pray and never give up, Jesus told a story of a widow who had the persistence of a pit bull. She had a dispute with an enemy and repeatedly took her request for justice to the judge, who kept ignoring her. This judge neither feared God nor cared about people, but he finally gave her justice because her persistence wore him out. If this unjust judge rendered a just decision, Jesus tells us that God will surely give justice to His chosen people who cry out to Him day and night (Luke 18:1–8). In another passage, He says to imagine you have unexpected company and have to go to a friend’s house at midnight to borrow some bread. You find your friend and his family are already settled in for the night, and he tells you to go away. But Jesus said if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence (Luke 11:6–8).
How many of us have the faith to pray with such shameless persistence, believing God will eventually answer? Instead, we often pray backwards. We receive before we believe. We pray a few times, asking God for something we need, and if we don’t receive it, we give up. Our persistence can be hindered by weariness, unbelief, and doubt that God loves us. But if we believe He truly loves us, we can be confident He hears and answers our cries for help. Jesus made this point clear when He said, “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 11:11–13). Even the evil judge relented. How much more will a loving Father respond to your persistent prayers?
Persistent prayer is an expression of your faith that God hears and God answers. It doesn’t necessarily mean constant repetition or endless prayer sessions into the wee hours of the night. It does means keeping your requests continually before Him and reminding Him of His promises, just like Ed did. It means never giving up, even when the answers come slowly. It’s knowing that even when nothing appears to be happening, He’s working on your behalf because He makes all things work together for your good (Romans 8:28). It’s knowing that God is always on your side (Romans 8:31). And it’s believing Him when He says that everyone who asks, receives; everyone who seeks, finds; and the door is opened to everyone who knocks. Keep on praying and never give up. Pray with shameless persistence. Pray like a pit bull.
Father, forgive me when I’ve given up too soon and allowed my unbelief and doubt to hinder my prayer life. I know You love me, Lord. You hear every prayer, and You always give good gifts to Your children. Help me to keep my eyes fixed on You and Your promises.
Lord, help me to keep on asking, keep on seeking, and keep on knocking. Remember Your promises to me, Lord! You are the God who heals, the God who restores! Please give me the faith to persist, to cry out to You day and night for justice when the answers come slowly. Thank You for being my advocate in the courts of heaven (1 John 2:1). Help me to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17 NKJV). Help me to pray like a pit bull!