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

Bradford Metropolitan Food Bank

By
An article in the March Link stated that, after April, the foodbank operated by the Light Church will limit its service to postcodes which extend into the centre of Bradford.  However, there is a food bank which provides food bags for the whole of the Bradford district and surrounding areas. The following is an account of this bank; I am indebted to Keith Thomson, a member of the committee, for this information. Bradford Metropolitan Food Bank is the original food bank in Bradford. It opened in 2004, as an extension of the Curry Project for rough sleepers, started by Lashman Singh. It provides food bags for the whole of the Bradford district and collects food from the same area. It is non-sectarian, supporting people of all faiths and none, and the volunteers are from all sections of the diverse Bradford community. The main committee, the original seven and up to fifty volunteers are just that. We are all volunteers and no-one is paid. We never see the people and families that...
Post a Comment
Read more

Prayer for Bradford

By
Do you feel isolated  at your work?   Are you unsupported in your Christian faith in the world? After worship, we share a coffee and a chat. But that is Sunday. We never seem to talk about Monday to Friday.  Work may be stressing me out and there is no one to share this with. Work may be brilliant and there is no one to share that with. How do we find being a Christian within a secular work environment? Do we feel isolated, or pressured, or encouraged? Prayer for Bradford wants to help and support you, where you are.  They want to help Christians who work in any area to feel supported. Especially, those who work within: - Business, Education, Finance, Health and Care, Media and Arts, Politics, and Public Services. The aim is to gather the names of Christians who work in Bradford and, later in the year, invite you to meet in work-related groups.  e.g.  Education etc... This is to allow you to share with others how you are and what encouragements ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Calverley's Green Fingers - well done!

By
At Calverley, in our publicity material, we always describe ourselves as the "Church in the Garden". Now we can say the prize-winning garden, because we gained a silver award in the Spring judging in The Leeds in Bloom competition. We try to use the garden throughout the year in the Lighthouse Sunday Services and this year we had a mass bulb-planting. You can find pictures on our Facebook page . We held a regeneration service and planted two trees for the future, a plum tree and a family apple tree which has 3 varieties on one tree! At the moment we have 2 plums developing nicely and 14 apples.  We also have the ‘Stand Tall for Jesus’ project. We gave each member of the congregation a sunflower in a pot of soil, and when they had grown to four leaves, we asked them to bring them back to plant in the garden, so they could grow tall for Jesus over the summer months. Rodney
Post a Comment
Read more