Day 74

Is there anything to petty for God?

In Luke chapter eleven the disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray. He then goes on to teach them what we call today, the Lord's prayer. But what he says after that is what I find interesting. 

As soon as he finished teaching he tells a parable about an annoyingly persistant friend (Luke 11:5-10). Apparently, this 'friend' arrives at another friends house at midnight requesting three loaves of bread. Now that is pretty annoying. In fact, it's so annoying that he can't be bothered to get out of bed and help him. So much for friendship... Look at what Jesus says:

"Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth." (v. 8)

Now if that isn't brutally honest I don't know what is! You see, the man isn't helping because he is his friend; He is helping to get his annoying friend off his back so he can go back to sleep in peace.

So, is God teaching us to annoy him with our persistant prayers? Of course not! He goes on to describe how God hears and answers the prayers of his children.

"I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." (vv. 9-10)

This is a stark contrast to the parable of the two friends. Here God says if you come knocking on his door at midnight he will answer you and greet you. He won't be lying in bed sleeping. He won't bid you to leave him alone. And most importantly, he won't answer your prayer simply because you annoy him.

The truth is, God wants us to rely on him every second of our day for every need. There is no thing we can ask God of that is too small. It's when we begin to think our needs are too small for God that we become greater in power in our own eyes. We might say something similar to this, "I don't want to bother God with that... I can handle it myself." But that leads down a dangerous road of trusting in self instead of God. This is what Jeremiah had to say about that:

"Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord." (Jeremiah 17:5)

I hope you will find time to pray today for your every need. There is no such thing as praying too much.

Here is one with lyrics, but here is the one I like better :-)

Jay Silvas