Tenacious Persistence

"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.

“You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.” - Matthew 7:7-11 NLT

When my almost 16 year old daughter was 10, Sarah Grace had the uncanny ability to ask for something continuously until she was heard, got what she wanted, or was told no. And if she was told no, she found ways to sneak another request or three into the conversation. Now that I think about it, she still has that tenacious persistence.

When asked as to why she continues to ask the way that she does, she responds as only the precocious SG could... “Well, I just want to make sure that I am heard. You know, with all the craziness and loudness that goes on around here... I just want to make sure that you heard me and knew.”

Those gifts of persistence and tenacity will serve her well in the future, but to the Daddy of two teenagers and a 10 year old at the time (deep sigh), it could wear on you.

As I think about SG (and her sisters) and her tenacious, persistent ability to ask... and continue asking... I am reminded of today’s passage and how Jesus tells us to ask, seek, and knock for good and necessary items.

Really, two things come to mind as I read this passage:

1. Jesus reminds us to ask and keep asking. He reminds us to be persistent in seeking God. Knowing God and His will takes faith and persistence. We are called to love the Lord with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. That is, all of our being. He wants us to pursue Him with that same tenacity. That same persistence. He wants us to ask, seek and knock. He tells us, as He told Solomon through King David, “If you seek Him, He will be found by you.”

2. Jesus reminds us to ask for good and necessary items (wisdom, patience, love, knowledge, understanding, guidance, direction, etc.) God knows that sometimes we pray for “stones and snakes” (though we may think they are bread & fish) and thus, He does not give us what we ask for even though we may may be persistent in our prayers. Which reminds us that “His ways are not our ways.” He sees the big picture. He knows that we need the good and necessary items (food and bread). He knows, even better than a loving parent, to give these good gifts. He knows what is Good, necessary and best for His children.

Pray and be persistent. Keep asking, Keep seeking. Keep knocking. Not necessarily so that you are heard, but because you are seeking His will for the desires of your heart. Pray that the desires of His heart become the desires of yours.

Keep the Faith... Carpe Diem.