Skip to main content

November 2013 Prayer Column - Persistent Pestering

Image
By
Persistent Pestering


At the launch of Walkers are Welcome in Baildon the other day, Colin Speakman reviewed 200 years of work for public access to the countryside, leading to our present footpath network (and who knows what next).  He commented that change rarely came but by pestering authority till they yielded for a bit of peace.
It’s like the point Jesus made about the need for persistence in prayer (Luke 18:1-8).  But if, as he said, the Father God to whom we pray is so much more willing to respond than selfish power groups, why then do we still need to persist or even pester?  Here are a few suggestions.
Problems in us: Asking for the wrong things, or for selfish reasons?  Could delay be the Father redirecting our thoughts?  Keep checking?
Problems out there: Resistance not from God but from other forces, which may take time to overcome  (e.g., Daniel 10:12-14).  Keep at it.
Problems beyond: God is sovereign: he knows best, and some reasons for his non-compliance may be beyond our finite ken.  Keep praising.
Problems in perception: Jesus didn’t fit expectations.  Paul wanted rid of his thorn in the flesh (2 Cor 12:7-10).  And we may not be recognising how God is blessing Bradford North.  Keep looking.
Persistence in prayer might be likened to a long flight of steps, but I’m not sure whether we are toiling up for a grander view or descending humbly to the foot of the cross.
Roy Lorrain-Smith


A prayer for each week

Father God, you’ve told us to pray and I have been doing for ages.  Why aren’t you answering?  Will you show me if I should change the way I’m praying in some way, please.  Amen.

Father God, what I’m praying for seems so right, and you aren’t telling me to stop, or change, so please help me to persist until everything falls into place for your answer to come.  Amen.

Father God, Sovereign, seeing beyond all our grasp, I have prayed long for my heart’s desire, but now I trust that you know best about whether, or when, or how to answer.  Amen.

Father God, what are you doing in Bradford North?  You promise to respond when we pray, but I don’t see it.  Am I not looking right?  Please can you show me your answers.  Amen.

Your own prayers


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Virtual Worship - 3 April 2022

By
A Methodist Way of Life - April 2022 - Praying Daily Service sheet (pdf) Start by listening to ‘Lead me Lord’:  Hello and welcome to the Bradford North worship video for April, the first of 12 services focusing on the commitments contained within the Methodist Way of Life and introduced by Rev David Goodall in last month’s video. My name is Claire Nott: I’m a local preacher on trial in the circuit and one of the lay pastors at Baildon Methodist Church. The anthem you heard at the start was Samuel Wesley’s ‘Lead me Lord’, based on Psalm 5 verse 8. Our call to worship is a selection of other verses taken from the same psalm: I pray to you, O  Lord ; 3      you hear my voice in the morning; at sunrise I offer my prayer [ b ]     and wait for your answer. all who find safety in you will rejoice;     they can always sing for joy. Protect those who love you;     because of you they are truly happy ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Sunday 6 July - what a great day!

By
Sunday July 6th - what a great day! 17 new members welcomed at Baildon MC in the morning - I pray that they will continue to sparkle as God's lovely people! Tea with the folk at Crag Road Methodist Church a happy time, around the table in the 'back room', where on Fridays hospitality is extended at the Drop In. Two inspiring memories to take with me! Rev Sarah 
Post a Comment
Read more

Called to the Big Society?

By
At leeds Church Institute (near the railway station) 20 New Market Street, Leeds LS1 6DG 9.30 am to 4.00 pm Friday 4 November 2011 Chair:   Bishop of Hull, Richard Frith Speakers: Dr Patrick Riordan SJ - Lecture in Political Philosophy at Heythrop College has written widely on the common good. Prof Peter Wells - Director of the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research at Sheffield Hallam University - has written recently on regional disparities in the Big Society for Yorkshire and the Humber. Speaker for the Government or from the Centre for Social Justice to offer an explanation of the government's perspective on The Big Society (to be confirmed) With contributions from Christian projects across Yorkshire and the Humber that illustrate Christian mission in the context of a Big Society. A regional event to consider what the Big Society is from a government perspective, how that fits with a Christian theology of the Common Good, and what sort of ...
Post a Comment
Read more