See Update at bottom of 2/19/10 Luke 10
http://www.birchwoodbaptist.org/10116/blogentry/entry_id/199896/Rejecting_the_Wrong_Person
2/20/10 Luke 11
Persistent Prayer
(Lk 11:8)8“I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
Most of us Americans are at such a disadvantage compared to the rest of the world in relation to persistence. Many countries and people groups find themselves immersed in conflict with one another that have lasted centuries. They tell their children who tell their children and on and on it goes. They are persistent to win physical, cultural, and religious wars fully aware that they may never see the victory. We live in a society that can have, know, or do nearly anything in a relatively short time period. We do not know what it means to wait to persist. We tire easily of things and can’t wait until the next “new” thing. In fact yesterday I saw a lady huff and puff as she had to wait a few extra minutes in line at a store. Sadly, I have done the same thing.
As disciples and as the church we must persist in prayer. Too often we expect a few minutes of worship and a thirty minute sermon on Sunday’s to solve a week’s worth of sinful living. We can view the church as a pharmacy looking for that next pill to cover the pain, but not deal with the source of the pain. Persist in prayer with God over your sin and those temptations that overwhelm you. Learn to be still and quite before the Lord and let Him direct your conversation “prayer.” I have been learning that there are a lot of things that the Lord wants to address in my life, but I must give Him opportunity to speak and that means I must stop and be still.
Prayer: Father, God, and Lord “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.” Amen.
Bonus: I received this video by way of e-mail this week I hope you enjoy it with just as big of a smile as I did.