Persevering prayer
The Content of persevering prayer
Now we want to look at the content of persevering prayer: let’s look at Jesus’ words again:
9)Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?
10)Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?
11)If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”
Jesus said, how much more will your Heavenly Father give good things, to those who ask Him.
What are the good things?
Are they Mecedes Benzes and beautiful houses at the seaside?
Is it material prosperity or our best life now?
Is it healing from all our diseases in this life?
When you take this text in its context, it definitely does not exclude food, clothes, our daily necessities and many things that will make life liveable , diapers for babies etc! Ask me, I have around one now! Money to study, clothes, sanitation, healthcare, political stability, and many other things. They are all good things, that our Heavenly Father wants to give us. BUT,
There are better things, than material things and toys that we need. They are spiritual things.
In Luke 11:13 we find Jesus, saying, instead of “how much more will your Father in heaven give you good things” how much more will your Father in heaven give you the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him”
And I think that is what the good things in Matthew 7:10,11 are pointing to. They point to the things of the Spirit. And then we are back to the beautitudes again. What are the good things, the ultimate good things?
They are, off course, the eternal things, the things that money can’t buy, and that are part of God. The fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, patience, humility, self-control
Or as Jesus puts it:
Poverty of spirit,
Mourning, brokenness
Meekness, humility
Hunger after righteousness
Mercyfulness
Purity of heart
Peacableness
Boldness for Righteosuness
Suffering for righteousness
So, what are the prayers that God always answers?
Prayers for more of the fruit of the Spirit!!
In other words, prayers to be conformed to the image of Christ, prayers for more measures of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Now this doesn’t mean we should not pray for the sick, and those who who are unsaved and those who struggle with sins in their lives.
There are so many things to pray for, but we must focus on the best things, the things of the Spirit.
What I have found helpful is to make lists of what to pray for. And then revisit those lists. And see how God answers prayer.
Truths Transform 