Luke 11:1-8: a reflection

1When he finished praying in a certain place, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.” 2He said to them, “When you pray, say, ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. 3Give us day by day our daily bread. 4Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’” 5He said to them, “Which of you, if you go to a friend at midnight and tell him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him,’ 7and he from within will answer and say, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give it to you’? 8I tell you, although he will not rise and give it to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence, he will get up and give him as many as he needs.

After teaching his disciples how to pray, Jesus tells a parable about persistence. A man goes to his friend at midnight asking for bread, and though the friend is reluctant, unwilling to get up, Jesus says: because of his persistence, he will get up and give him as many as he needs. The man received not because the friend was eager, but because he kept asking, would not be put off, persisted. Jesus tells this to encourage persistence in prayer, not giving up when the answer does not come at once, but continuing to ask. The lesson is to persist, to keep asking, not to be discouraged into giving up.

Notice what the parable commends: persistence in asking. The man at midnight did not receive because the request was welcome or the friend eager; he received because he persisted, kept knocking, would not give up. And Jesus applies this to prayer: we are to persist, to keep asking, not to give up when the answer does not come at once. Persistence in prayer is not nagging an unwilling God; it is the perseverance that keeps asking, keeps seeking, does not lose heart. The parable encourages us not to give up in prayer, but to persist, to keep bringing our requests, as the man persisted at midnight. Prayer is to be persistent, continuing rather than quickly giving up when the answer delays.

That is worth taking to heart, for we are encouraged to persist in prayer, not giving up when the answer delays. When we pray and the answer does not come at once, we can grow discouraged and give up, concluding it is no use; but Jesus tells us to persist, as the man at midnight kept asking and received because of his persistence. Prayer is to be persistent, not quickly abandoned. Do not give up in prayer when the answer does not come at once; persist, keep asking, as the man at midnight kept knocking and received. Persist in prayer, not giving up when the answer delays but continuing to ask, as Jesus commended the man at midnight who received because of his persistence; for prayer is to be persistent, and we are encouraged not to lose heart or give up but to keep asking, keep knocking, keep bringing our requests to God.

Lord Jesus, after teaching your disciples how to pray, you tell a parable about persistence. A man goes to his friend at midnight asking for bread, and though the friend is reluctant, you say: because of his persistence, he will get up and give him as many as he needs. The man received not because the friend was eager, but because he kept asking, would not be put off, persisted. You tell this to encourage persistence in prayer, not giving up when the answer does not come at once, but continuing to ask. Show me what the parable commends: persistence in asking. The man at midnight did not receive because the request was welcome or the friend eager; he received because he persisted, kept knocking, would not give up. And you apply this to prayer: we are to persist, to keep asking, not to give up when the answer does not come at once. Persistence in prayer is not nagging an unwilling God; it is the perseverance that keeps asking, does not lose heart. The parable encourages us not to give up in prayer, but to persist. Take that to my heart, for I am encouraged to persist in prayer, not giving up when the answer delays. When I pray and the answer does not come at once, I can grow discouraged and give up, concluding it is no use; but you tell me to persist, as the man at midnight kept asking and received because of his persistence. Prayer is to be persistent. Keep me from giving up in prayer when the answer does not come at once; help me persist, keep asking, Lord, as the man at midnight kept knocking and received, not losing heart but continuing to bring my requests to you.