Persistent Prayer

5 Sep

From the day we heard about you, we do not cease praying for you
and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will
through all spiritual wisdom and understanding
to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord,
so as to be fully pleasing, in every good work bearing fruit
and growing in the knowledge of God,
strengthened with every power, in accord with his glorious might,
for all endurance and patience,
with joy giving thanks to the Father, who has made you fit to share
in the inheritance of the holy ones in light.  (Col 1:9-12)

Think five years old.

Then, think Christmas.

Now, think about the gift that you want.

It’s September 5th.  What are you going to do?

Start dropping hints, of course.

Little children who get fixated on anything really know how to vocalize, don’t they?

If they want something for Christmas, you will know about it.  If they want something for their birthday, you will know about it.  If they want something — anything at all, any time at all — you will definitely know about it!

I often think that image when I imagine the early Church at prayer.

St. Paul tells the early Church that he and his followers have prayed without ceasing for those he left behind.

Without ceasing.

That is the key phrase for us today.

As humans, we tend to stop asking for something when it becomes “apparent” to us that we are not going to get it.

However, God works on an entirely different time and level than we do here on earth.  Our prayers should be without ceasing because we should be confident that God does hear us and that God will answer us — in His good time.

FAITH ACTION:  Pray for all who struggle to follow the Lord that their footsteps be sure this day.