Today’s Daily Bread ~ Permission to Pester

Isaiah 62:6-7 – O Jerusalem, I have posted watchmen on your walls; they will pray to the LORD day and night for the fulfillment of His promises. Take no rest, all you who pray. Give the LORD no rest until He makes Jerusalem the object of praise throughout the earth.

As I write this, my two children are 3 and 4 years old.  They really are the sweetest (in my unbiased opinion, of course) little things on earth.  However, the fruit of the Spirit has yet to manifest itself in their young lives.  Especially when we’re talking about patience.  An example, if I may…..

“Mom? Can I have some cheese?”
“Yes honey, I’ll give you cheese with your dinner.”
Fifteen seconds later: “Moo-oommm (effectively turning a one sylable word into 2)! Where’s my cheese? You said I could have some cheese!”

And the scenario continues until said child receives said cheese.

Sometimes Mike will come home and try to talk to me while the kids are racing around, hollering for this or that.  Their yells don’t even faze me, I literally stop hearing them, but Mike can’t even think, let alone focus on the conversation.  When my children want something, they will pester and pester until they get one of two things: what they want, or sent sternly away.

Lately, I’ve been convicted that I’m not pestering the Lord like I should.  I know that sounds strange, but Jesus Himself instructs us on how to pray, and time and time again He sites persistence.

Luke 11:9 – “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened.”

I think so many of us aren’t seeing God working in our lives the way we want to because we give up too easily.  Colossians 4:2 – Devote yourselves to prayer with an open mind and a thankful heart. We pray.  But do we truly devote ourselves to prayer?

The English Standard Version says we are to continue steadfastly in prayer.  In the original Greek, the word used is proskartereo (pros-kar-ter-eh`-o), and means to continue in persistence, to be steadfastly attentive to, to continue all the time in, to persevere and not faint, and to be courageous in your persistence.  God wants us to come boldly before His throne, present our petitions, and continue in our persistence.  He wants us to pester Him!

Revelation 5:8 says our prayers are like incense to Him – Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense – the prayers of God’s people!  Paul tells the Philippians, “don’t worry about anything, instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done (Philippians 4:6).”

I remember getting in trouble for something in High School, and my mother looked at me, so disappointed, and said, “Rebecca, why couldn’t you come to me with this?” I didn’t realize it at the time, but now that I have children of my own, I understand.  My mom loves me so much.  It truly hurt her feelings that I wouldn’t ask her for help.

How much more then, does our Heavenly Father want us to come to Him with everything?  Nothing is too small or too trivial for God.  If we only come to Him out of desperation when life throws us a curveball, we’re missing out on the bountiful blessings He so desperately wants to pour out on us! 

This morning, during my quiet time with God, I was struggling with a decision.  He brought to mind Psalm 37:23 – The steps of the godly are directed by the LORD. He delights in every detail of their lives.  When we seek Him, He will answer us.  He will reveal Himself to us.  But presenting God a “to-do” list every once in awhile is not devoting ourselves to prayer.  We need to set aside time everyday to worship Him, thank Him for everything He’s done in our lives, petition Him with our needs and the needs of others, and listen.

Dear Heavenly Father, we want to have a powerful prayer life!  We want to know You more!  Please help us develop the discipline to do this, God.  Please convict us when we neglect You.  Please help us to manage our time better so we can spend more with You.  We thank You in advance for the blessings You have in store for us as You answer our prayers, God.  Please fill us with Your Holy Spirit, and remind us of how much You love us.  Enough to send Your only Son to die for us.  You deserve everything God, far more than a few minutes in the morning and a few more before we drift off to sleep.  We love You so much, and we ask these things in the beautiful name of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.