Scripture: Then He said to them, “Which of you has a friend and shall go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine on his journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give you anything’? I say to you, though he will not rise and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as much as he needs. Luke 11:5-8
Observation: As Jesus is teaching about prayer - and has just taught the disciples "The Lord's Prayer", he then explains prayer thusly ... even if you are disinclined to help a friend due to other reasons and circumstances, yet you will help if for not other reason than their persistence in asking, and so it is with prayer.
God answers prayer because we ask.
Application: I do not believe we can truly alter the mind of God, and I am confident we cannot alter or change his will. However, I do think there are things about which God is neutral - elements of life where God can work his will through any number of circumstances, and our asking therefore becomes something he is willing to respond to. These 'neutral' situations may not be 'trivial' matters, but might be ... healing of a loved one, assistance through a challenge in life, earthly debt or needs.
There is one thing about which God will never be neutral, and that is salvation and belief in Jesus. And Jesus never taught anyone to pray for an individual to change their heart. He and the apostles pray for people, pray for believers, pray for protection of others, and pray for guidance of hearts and minds of others. However, they never pray for someone to "believe".
I do this all the time. Maybe I need to focus my thoughts differently. God is not neutral to the belief of others. He is not neutral to the point of sacrificing his own son for that belief. Therefore my prayer does not motivate God to reach that individual. I need to think about the nature of my prayer with God, what perhaps what are the 'neutral' situations in which our conversations may in fact yield fruit.
Prayer: Dear Lord, you are all powerful and all knowing. Most of all, you are all loving. I ask your love to be poured upon your world this day. May we all be more patient, kinder, and loving, especially as it comes to interacting with those who do not know you, so that your kingdom will come in just a little more reality to those people. Amen.
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