The Again in Prayer

There’s an again in prayer. I pray again and again.

I do it because it’s a conversation between me and Christ. A lifeline connection to God.

Some people think I do it to change the situation. Some, to change people. Mostly I do it because it changes me.

It’s why the words in Luke 11 puzzle me so often.

So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. ¹For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Luke 11:9-10

There have been things I’ve asked for over and over and over and over again. There have been things I’ve sought, searched like a miner looking for copper in a depleted mine, mucked through deep waters to seek. There have been times I’ve not only knocked, I’ve pounded and pounded and pounded on the door to be opened for me.

To no avail.

I’m fairly certain that Jesus the Christ felt this way in the Garden of Gethsemane. When the disciples who were asked to pray with him fell asleep as he prayed until his sweat became blood.

I only know it’s a long obedience in the same direction. God is God and I am not.

I only know that I change even when circumstances to not. God isn’t a magical wish granter. Life is complicated.

I’ll continue to A.S.K.: Ask, Seek, Knock. I’ll continue to ask why and wonder about those seemingly unanswered prayers. I’ll work to take that long obedience in the same direction. ❤