Give Us This Day Our Daily Prayer

Our daily prayer, even more important than our daily bread, is vital in maintaining our relationship with God and neighbor. The two great commandments that summarize the ten, to love God and others, were given to Moses on Mt. Sanai and apply every single day of human life on Earth. Persistence in prayer on a daily basis is a non-negotiable for all disciples of Christ. Jesus gives this example in scripture:

And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey and I have nothing to offer him,’ and he says in reply from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked and my children and I are already in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.’ I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence (Luke 11:5-8).

It is important to remember that prayer changes us while God remains the same. It is tempting to infer that God operates in a manner similar to the humans cited in the various teaching parables. These “lessons” are designed in a way that can be understood by those with “ears to hear”, and not to be taken literally. God cannot be worn out by our prayers, but we can miss the mark by thinking that persistence in prayer can “persuade” God to act according to our liking. We are told to ask, seek, and knock as we trust our Heavenly Father with the timing and details. We read in scripture:

And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the holy Spirit to those who ask him? (Luke 11:9-13).

There is a prayer attributed to an unknown Confederate soldier that has resounded in the hearts of many throughout the years. It illustrates how God answers prayer according to His wisdom and not ours:

I asked God for strength that I might achieve.
I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked for health that I might do greater things.
I was given infirmity that I might do better things.
I asked for riches that I might be happy.
I was given poverty that I might be wise.
I asked for power that I might have the praise of men.
I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life.
I was given life that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I had hoped for.

Daily prayer solidifies our relationship with God and keeps us grounded in humility by acknowledging our dependence on divine providence and grace. We are told in scripture to “pray unceasingly”, “pray always”, and “call out to God day and night”. The parable of the dishonest judge and the widow underscores the value of persistence in prayer. The judge reasons in the following passage from Luke:

‘While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being, because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.” The Lord said, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily” (Luke 18:4-8).

May we have a renewed commitment to daily prayer through the indwelling of the Holy Trinity, along with the intercession of all in the heavenly court and the communion of saints here on earth.