Jesus’ ministry was gaining momentum.  Word of his powerful teaching and miraculous healings stirred the hearts of the people.  They followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, from Jerusalem, Judea and the Jordan region.  As a great crowd gathered, Jesus climbed up the side of the mountain, sat down and began to teach them.  They listened in amazement as he taught what we now call the Beatitudes―the attitudes that bring blessing into our lives.  He taught about loving our enemies, giving to the needy, and how we should store up treasures in heaven.  But toward the end of that sermon, Jesus provides us with a valuable instruction concerning prayer:

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. (Matt. 7:7-8 NIV)

Jesus gives us permission, even encouragement to be persistent when we pray―to keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking. But why does the Father value persistence in our praying?  I certainly don’t have all the answers. But this relationship between asking and persistence does remind me of one of the favorite things my grandchildren love to do as Christmas approaches. With great anticipation they await the arrival of toy flyers in the mail. As they peruse each one, they circle at least two or three things on every page, certain that they want everything that has been circled. And then they begin asking. But what I notice as Christmas draws closer, their persistent requests are narrowed down to just a few key toys, revealing to their parents what they truly “need” to receive.

The same seems to be true with my asking. Persistence tends to filter out my needs from my wants, my requests that are critical from those that are not. Perhaps this aspect of persistence in prayer is more for our benefit than for His? Your thoughts?