Monday, September 17, 2012

Pray and Don't Give Up

Hey there, glad you stopped by. Welcome to Monday Morning Motivation.

I do these posts each most Mondays as a sort of shot in the arm to get you going on your week. I think of them as productivity jump-starters. But you can think of them as posts designed to reduce your need for a third second cup of coffee. (subscribe in the side bar)



If you've come over from my devotion published today, you know today I'm talking about faith. And prayer. And not giving up. So this one is a shot in the arm for your prayer life.

Only I won't give the shot to you so much as Jesus will.

If you haven't already read the devo yet, be sure and do that so that 1) you'll understand why my neighbors think I'm erratic but I'm not, and 2) so your arm will be prepped for this next dose.

OK. I love me some parables. But I especially love it when Jesus spells things out plainly for us. He does that in Matthew 7:7-11.  Give me your arm, this won't hurt a bit ...

Ask, Seek, Knock

 

 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?  If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"  (Matt 7:7-11, NIV)




If you do word studies on the verbs "ask," "seek," "knock" you'll discover that the tense they were written in would have you translate this as: "Ask, and keep on asking; seek, and keep on seeking; knock, and keep on knocking ... " In other words: PRAY ALWAYS AND DON'T GIVE UP.

Both this passage and the parable in the devotion communicate to us that sometimes in life you have to persist to see the outcome materialize. We don't always know why but apparently it is so. So make up your mind now to persist.

These passages also remind us that if a parent will give good things to the child they love, and even a cranky, corrupt judge will do the right thing when pressed to, of course your Heavenly Father will give you what you need when you come to Him in faith.

So stay at it while expecting results. That's the faith part.

{Desperation drives us to prayer. But it's faith that keeps us at it, expecting results.}

It's worth noting that the provision of the good gifts is probably a reference to the wisdom, blessing and guidance of God supplied in response to repeated requests. The teaching as a whole doesn't imply that we get everything we want, but that God gives the good that we need.

Case in point: I do not have a beach house in Malibu. Nor have I grown a single inch past my 5'2" frame.

If you want to read more on this passage in Matthew, I recommend Matthew Henry's excellent commentary on it. But if this shot in the arm is all you needed to close your eyes and seek God in prayer today - and again tomorrow - my work here is done.

What did you stop praying for?  What did you once seek, but give up on?

Tell me in a comment here, or on my Facebook post, and I'll join you in praying for it!

28 comments:

  1. I have been inspired. It is almost,(well I am almost certain) as if He wanted to give this message to me because mass this morning too spoke about faith. I have stopped praying about furthering my education because it didn't work out this year...ok its a bit complicated than that because I thought (so now I am not sure) I heard His voice that I would got to school this year. Anyway so when it didn't work out I actually told my beloved a week ago that I have concluded that it is not necessary to pray about what I want anymore...now...I'm changing my mind. Thanks.

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    1. Sounds like today's devotion was just want you needed to hear! I will pray for you and your schooling options today.

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  2. I've been praying for almost 20 years for a husband, and I've stopped praying bcos it just looks like it's not going to happen. I'm now almost 44 and all I'm getting lately is married men !!! It can't be what God has for me. But it's so difficult bcos it's so tempting to just give up and give in. I'm truly struggling with this.

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  3. Please watch "I will wait for you" by Janette on YouTube. You will be encouraged. :-)

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    1. Very powerful indeed!! Thank You!!

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  4. Please watch I will wait for you by Janette on YouTube.

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  5. My husband and I have been persisting in prayer for provision since his job loss around 20 months ago. It's been a long journey and just plain hard on some days. We have seen God provide in some miraculous ways time and time again showing us HIS goodness through this unemployment journey. We did not give up even after resume after resume was sent out with no responses and he was not selected after going on interview after interview. Through this experience, HE has grown our faith and our persistence like never before. And HE heard our cries - my husband starts a new job next Monday! HIS timing is perfect. God is good!

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    1. Yay! Celebrating with you today, Pam. :)

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  6. I've given up on praying to be able to be a stay at home mom or at least work part-time. I really feel that it is best for my family that I work less than full time, but because of a variety of circumstances, I've given up on praying. I've been praying about this for 8 years and am completely discouraged. Not only that, but I've given up on trying to make our finances fit a single family income budget. I really needed to read your devotion today. I am NOT going to give up! I will reignite my prayer life and not give up on this. Thank you!

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  7. teresaandreaSeptember 17, 2012

    Thank you so much for your blog and devotion, I was very discouraged this morning about my husband coming back and attending church. He hasn't been in over 3 years. I was ready to give up and you reminded me I need to have woodpecker faith. Thank you so much.

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  8. I've been praying for my daughter to have another child. She has adopted two beautiful little girls. Her second was from an embryo donation. She has had one failed attempt at second embryo adoption. She goes back to Tennessee for a second attempt.Thanks foryour encouragement to be persistent in prayer and have woodpecker faith.

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  9. Just this morning as I was praying I wondered if God was getting "bored" with the issues and requests I've prayed about for months (or longer). I keep a written list of prayers of thanksgiving, confession, and requests, and update it every so often. One prayer a few months ago was for God to bring Christians into the lives of my children (who are out of state at college) and my husband (who doesn't have a strong faith). Late last spring my husband came home from church (he'd gone to a different service that Sunday) and said that both the retired pastor from our church (who married us) and a long-time family friend who is a pastor, had been there and made a point to talk to him and shake his hand on the way out of church that morning. What better Christian friends to talk to and encourage him? Many times as I look through my lists I realize that even prayers I have stopped praying, have been answered.

    Great devotion, Rachel! Thank you!

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  10. My husbands dream was to become a firefighter. Over the course of 5 years god opened many doors and thru extensive test and exams his dream came true. Spent 1 yr at the fire academy and has been with our citys fire dept a little over a yr. He's recently told me he's struggling with what he sees when he goes on ems runs and how people live their lives/take care of themselves. I truly believe this is what gods plan is for him but he's really doubting that. Your devotion reminds me to pray fervently and not give up. He's ready to look for another job and our family has given up so much for him to have the job as firefighter. ??? Lots of questions and doubt right now.

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  11. It's funny over the years I have seen God's miraculous provision over and over again. Answers to prays that I didn't understand!!!
    However, praying for my husbands salvation is a different struggle for me! I'm not really sure why, however... I guess sometimes it looks like two steps up 4 backwards :-( I pray I would learn/know what the Father is trying to teach me and that I would learn it....

    thanks ,
    Karen

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  12. Heath issue I have
    Daughter who is single Mom; her job; her finances; troubles with EX
    Grandson needs college help; healing of relationship with his Dad
    My DH needs relationships help
    These are things I pray over and over and want to see answers. Your devo is so appropriate for me...thanks.
    Jackie

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  13. Loved today's devotion. I was walking right along side you out your door to get that woodpecker. They wake us up too! Sharon Glasgow

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  14. Your devotional really spoke to me today. My daughter was given a diagnosis recently that is not life threatening but may have long term treatment and she is only 6. We found out 1.5 months ago and have been praying and trying to stay faithful to know that God will take care of her. She loves God so much and is such a "bubbly" active child. Somedays I get discouraged and my faith seems harder to hold on to because I'm not getting the immediate answer from God. I would appreciate your prayers for faithfulness and I will persist.

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    1. It's so hard when our little ones encounter hardship! Praying for you and your daughter now.

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  15. This may sound crazy but as a creative, artsy person I had a real struggle with wanting to add some original artwork to my home, specifically a portrait. I wrote all about in a blog titled "Bucket List". I laid it down and just recently God picked it up and gave it back to me, in a way I never imagined. God is so good. He cares about the things we pray about and give up as much as the things we keep holding on to.

    I love woodpeckers! They are so consistent!

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  16. I truly enjoyed reading your devotion today.I have been praying for the assignment God has for me next, but I am currently serving in positions in ministry that just seem to be busy work and not really where my call or my passion is. I believe it is time for me to shift how I do not know. Please keep me in your prayers

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    1. Hi. Thanks for the encouraging comment. Do you know what your gifts and passions are? Start there. I will pray.

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  17. I am having trouble praying and I have always been a "prayer warrior". In the last year I have lost 2 friends to Melanoma and my brother to pancreatic cancer. So very many people were praying with me in all 3 situations...hundreds. I have been mad at God and feel so dead inside when I try to pray. Has made me almost afraid to pray for anyone.... I know God has a bigger plan than I can see, but it is so very hard. I have told God how I feel, have praised him (at least with my words) but feel like my prayers are not getting through.

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    1. Hello friend, I am praying for you. I lost my mom to cancer when I was a teen - I know those hard feelings. Try reading through a psalm a day. And when you reach the end of the psalm, just pray whatever comes to your mind or heart. God will hear.

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  18. praying for my very broken marriage. My pastor husband has left for the 3rd time and filed for divorce this time, my prayer is for real healing and transformation - God gave me a 'word' in Feb that he was working to repair broken things in my life, after I'd prayed for Him to speak to me (telling no one) and on a trip to FL with my daughter while visiting a church with a friend, the pastor pointed me out during his sermon and said that the Holy Spirit told him that God had a word for me -- I did not know the man, never met him, had never been there. He said "God wants you to know he is working to repair the broken things in your life, he's working restoration" things have gone from bad to worse since then with my husband filing for divorce in June, moving out and leaving me with the mortgage etc, on a very small income. BUT GOD -- I trust Him and cling to Him, and still pray for His touch in this situation, I do not want my marriage and family to become yet another 'statistic" and "win" for satan. Please pray along with me -- thank you --

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  19. Over the past year (since attending She Speaks last year actually) I have felt oppression like never before. I KNOW it is Satan, but I also just can't seem to find relief from this mental torture. I gave up praying...waved the white flag and just let Satan defeat me, for a while. Over the past week, I've finally started to see a light at the end of the tunnel. I know in my mind what to do, it's just taking my will and heart a moment to catch up.

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  20. Allison, thanks for stopping by and commenting. I am praying for you tonight. The power you need resides in the name of Jesus - call on it!

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  21. I have been praying for the conversion of my younger son. For him to come to Jesus and have faith. Also for him to get a suitable job. I have been praying for years....I know God will answer in HIS time. But I request you to please join me in my prayers for my son Daryl.

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    1. I've prayed for Daryl. Thanks for the opportunity to.

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