Persistent Prayer

  

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/111514.cfm) reminds me that we should be persistent in prayer.

1 Thessalonians 5:!6 tells us that we should pray unceasingly and give thanks in all circumstance. This is what Jesus reminds us in today’s gospel. We should be persistent in prayer.

Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones
who call out to him day and night?

We should not give up when we do not get what we want or what we pray for. In fact, we should do the opposite. We should work more and work harder to get it. We should pray harder to get what we want, what we are praying for.

Praying changes us. And when we pray always, when we pray more, we are changed more.

There is no minimum requirement of prayer before God grants our requests. He does not need 1000 Hail Mary’s before he hears us. Saying novena and attending masses are not prerequisites for God to hear us. However, these things, and prayer in general, molds and changes us to become more and more like him. And as we become more like him, as we get to know him more, we get to increase our faith. We get to love him more. And probably that’s what God wants for us, before he grants our requests.

May God’s silence on our prayers not discourage us, but lead us to pray more.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to experience your love. Thank you for another weekend. Thank you for all the opportunities to pray and get closer to you. Thank you for the chance to get to know you more and experience your love. Lord, I pray that you continue to mold me as I pray to you. Amen.

Blessed Weekend!

In Christ,

-g-