Approach to prayer - persistence

[Lilsheep88]

I cant remember where I got this idea from… but is it true that when you constantly pray in persistence that God will eventually answer your prayer?? Somethinglike water constantly tricking will turn a hard rock hollow? That he cant say no if you keep bugging him?? like a child constantly nagging his parent for candy that the parent has to eventually give it to him?? Are there any bible verses out there that support this logic… Sorry if I ask too many questions… Just curious because I am really start to value and recommit to my catholic faith.

 

[Philotheatoo]

When we pray, when we talk to God, we are answering God ~ not the other way around. If you think you are constantly haranguing God, maybe you are just repeating the same things rote, rather than with love for God. Yes, we should ask God for intervention however; we must look past the closed door in front of us sometimes in order to find the door that God has opened in answer to that prayer. The old saying, ‘Be careful what you ask for, you just might get it.’ is so true. Do be careful. God DOES answer prayers, we just don’t always SEE the answer because we are so focused on what WE want. A closed door is usually an invitation to a better path. I do not know of any Bible verse you are referring to but, I try to pray with glory to The Lord. When I am going to ask for something, I try to do so after first thanking God for my many blessings.

 

[Dorothy]

Just remember when you pray persistently that the Lord will answer, although it may be in a different way than you expect.

He knows what is best for us, and it is a test of our trust of Him to add, after your intercessory prayers, “May Your Will be done, not mine.”

 

[agnes_therese]

Prayer is always answered. Just remember that sometimes the answer is “No.” He knows what is best for us, far better than we do.

 

[ready]

See Luke 18:1-14 for the story about the persistent widow and the unjust judge.

 

[JRKH]

I cant remember where I got this idea from… but is it true that when you constantly pray in persistence that God will eventually answer your prayer?? Something like water constantly tricking will turn a hard rock hollow? That he cant say no if you keep bugging him?? like a child constantly nagging his parent for candy that the parent has to eventually give it to him?? Are there any bible verses out there that support this logic… Sorry if I ask too many questions… Just curious because I am really start to value and recommit to my catholic faith.

First of all - Praise God for your renewed commitment.

I have heard some of this but I don’t know of any real clear bible reference except perhaps the one mentioned above by “ready”.

Overall I think that this idea - as laid out in your post - is a dangerous one. The reason I say this is because it does not address some very necessary preconditions.
First is a properly ordered mind.
Second is a proper understanding (through the properly ordered mind) of what prayer is and how it should proceed.
Note here that I am not saying you lack these things, but someone reading your OP without these things could get the wrong impression.

Yes we are to pray constantly - First of all we are to pray in order to bring ourselves into a proper order or alignment with God and HIS will. The Our Father provides a wonderful outline for this.
Secondly we need to pray for others. In other words pray for those we love, which includes even our enemies.
Third - any needs we pray for need to be simple and designed to speed our spiritual growth. Such prayer can include asking for certain personal needs but in keeping with the guidelines of the Our Father, (…our daily bread…) these needs should be simple - food, shelter, clothing, protection from sin etc…

If our prayers are properly ordered, THEN, I would agree that God cannot refuse us and that constant “bugging” Him will get an affirmative answer.

If we do NOT properly order our lives and our prayers then - Like the child in your example nagging for candy - God may answer us with silence, or with an answer we do not want. Not unlike a parent will ignore the child’s nagging or, if necessary, discipline the child for its improper petitioning.

I hope this helps.

Peace
James

 

[Cryptic1]

Most people give up praying because it doesn’t seem to work, but I believe it’s because most people are praying incorrectly.

God already knows what you’re going to ask Him for before you ask–because He’s God. So then prayer is not (as most have been taught) about beseeching or begging God but rather, asking until you come to believe in faith what you’re asking for.

This is how I’ve learnt to pray. First, I begin with praise to the Father. I’ll just thank HIm at the place where I am (if I’m driving in the car, I’ll praise Him for the beautiful weather, the good traffic, my health, my family, etc…) until I feel I’m praising Him from my heart. Secondly, I’ll put in my request as a given (Father, I know that you are the Great Provider, so I thank you in advance for providing for my needs this day, especially (tell Him your need). Lastly, I will ask in Jesus name (Father, I thank you in the holy name of your son, Jesus).

Start writing down your prayer requests on paper (I put my requests on a folder in my computer) and then I’ll check every so often to see if the prayer has manifested. In many instances it has, and then I’ll write a short prayer of thanks to the Father and Jesus (Thank you Father for providing me with …(whatever you requested). I praise you and glorify you! Thank you Jesus!) By posting your prayers or writing them down, you will be able to track them and to actually see that your prayers are being answered.

As far in persistence in prayer, I don’t believe you have to nag or beseech God, if that’s the way you’ve been praying. I think Jesus was preaching a message of faith and standing strong in prayer against adversities and obstacles. When you pray this way, you wil see and experience God’s real miracle power because God does answer prayers.

God Rocks