Keep On Asking

And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:7-15 ESV). Do you ever pray the same prayer over and over again? I do. In fact, every evening as I go to sleep the last prayer I say is for God to be watchful over my family as I name them each. I pray for a blessing from God to be poured out on them the next day and in the days to come. I pray that same prayer every day. Is that a “vain repetition”? After all, if God already knows what we need before we ask him, why keep asking over and over again? Our reading today gives us a clue. Jesus warns against praying as the gentiles, or pagans do, with empty phrases. Apparently people felt that saying things over and over again would have some magical power. The Lord’s disciples are instead to appeal to the Father revealed in Christ, who loves them and knows all their needs. But Jesus doesn’t discourage his followers from asking. They are not to ask mindlessly, but knowing God as their Father in Christ, they are to come to him with their requests. Consider the prayer our Lord taught us. Chief among our requests are for God’s name to be hallowed, for his kingdom to come, for his will to be done on earth as it is done in heaven. These are to be our first concerns. But we are also to pray for our daily bread, for forgiveness of sins, for deliverance from every evil power. Jesus encourages his followers to ask, to seek, and to knock. He indicates that the Father gives good gifts to those who keep asking. Never be ashamed, then, of asking God for what you and others need. He wants you to ask. There may come times when he will make it clear to you that the desired gift will not be granted. But until he does that, feel free to keep asking. These are not vain repetitions; these are the earnest desires of your heart. I would encourage you to make it a practice to pray with the kind of earnestness that you keep on asking. Don’t give up in your petitions for that loved one who needs to be turned to Christ; don’t stop asking for God to bring healing to someone who is sick or alienated from family or friends. Keep on asking. Your Father in heaven will not tire of your voice. He is not slow to answer. He is always right on time.