Prayer is universally accepted as normative for Christians. Christians pray, and most non-Christians pray to some god or the other. In one of the strangest facts ever, I read somewhere that a large number of atheists pray!

While Christians certainly believe in prayer, we seem to do very little praying with power. I, for one, am tired of prayerlessness and powerlessness. “Why has a practice so passionately pursued by Jesus become so often ignored by those who call Him Lord?” (Tom Elliff, A Passion for Prayer, 13).

Of all the things they wanted to know, Jesus disciples asked Him to teach them to pray (Luke 11:1). Let’s think about prayer.

Jesus told the story of the woman who shamelessly entreated the unjust judge for justice. Though he would not give her what she wanted out of justice, because of her persistence he granted her request. Jesus used this example as a lesson for His followers. The whole point was they should always pray and not give up. If the unjust judge would give to this poor woman, God would certainly bring justice to His chosen ones (Luke 18:1-8).

The emphasis is on persistence in prayer. Luke 11:5-8 contains the same emphasis. A friend woke his neighbor in the middle of the night because he had guests and needed bread. Not because of friendship but because of persistence, the man woke all of his house to find bread.

Our prayer times should be often, regular, and fervent. James told us that the “effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16). Why would we settle for weak, ineffective prayers when God wants us to come boldly to the throne of grace? The woman and the neighbor in the parables Jesus told had one important commonality–they persisted in prayer. In the teaching following the parable of the friend at midnight, Jesus counseled His followers to keep on asking, keep on seeking, and keep on knocking.

I believe the most telling point of prayer is this. Jesus said if you, though sinful and rebellious, give good gifts to your children, “how much more will your father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?” (Luke 11:13).

I intend to pray fervently and persistently.

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