Jesus had just finished teaching His disciples the pattern for how to pray and now instructs them to persist in prayer by telling them a parable of a man willing to get up even at midnight to meet the needs of his friend.  This man sacrificed his own comfort and sleep to provide for another. Jesus provided this illustration to show that those who persist in prayer will not walk away empty-handed.  The promise of persistent praying is in the answer that is guaranteed to come.  Jesus calls us to continue in prayer until we receive the answer.  Sometimes the answer is delayed, but we are called to persist just the same, until we are prepared to receive what He has purposed.

 

Many of us make new year's resolutions to start a new diet or begin a new exercise regime so we can shed excess weight and begin the year physically fit.  We've subscribed to the advertisements that guarantee inches lost and strength gained if we will follow the prescribed program.  Jesus provides for us the ultimate guarantee of victory and success if we are willing to surrender to His instruction and become trained in prayer.  By following our Master's daily exercise regime, willing to rise early, and diligent in seeking Him throughout the day, we will become more spiritually fit and strengthened,  sculpted into useful vessels through which He can channel His grace into the world.

The Lord's greatest desire is for His children to experience deeper fellowship with Him so that we will learn to trust Him more; allowing Him to pour His love into our lives so that we can be used to pour out His grace into the lives of others.   It is in the language of prayer - our asking and His giving - that He expresses His love for us; a love He has no desire to withhold, but we often miss out on because we have become lazy and unskilled in the discipline of prayer.  

 

This calls for confidence and diligence on behalf of His children.  Believing that their prayers are actually heard and will receive an answer.  The whole purpose of prayer rests in the assurance that it will be heard and answered.  Our Heavenly Father is not a rude operator on the other end of the line, willing to accept our call but hanging up the phone before giving an answer.  On the contrary, He waits patiently for us, watching over us while we send out our SOS in a sea of emails, text messges, and phone calls, because we're just too accustomed to getting instant answers to our many questions and problems.  Sometimes we give up far too quickly in our praying, often as soon as we submitted our request, all because we are too impatient to wait for what God has promised.

 

God explicitly said, "Ask and you will receive."  He wants His children to come confidently and boldly before His throne (Hebrews 4:16) and receive the answer He has waiting for us.  It is His will to answer our request.  He will always answer.  Every so often, however, when our request is not according to His Word, He may ask us to withdraw our request; calling us to be more diligent in the study of His Word.  He is a gracious, loving, and benevolent heavenly Father who is waiting for us to ask so He can answer.  He can't give until we are willing to ask.  The responsibility rests with us, the response will come from Him!   

 

Meditate on this familiar Scripture, trusting that when you call upon Him, your heavenly Father will listen and answer you.  This is what Andrew Murray calls: "The eternal law of the kingdom - ask and you will receive, everyone who asks, receives."  The Lord has great plans for each of His children, desiring to bless them with all they need to live out the glorious future He has planned for them; all of which is at our disposal if we will simply ask.