I’ve been hanging out in Luke 11:1-13 the past few days. Jesus has been praying when one of His disciples asks Him to teach them how to pray like John taught his disciples. So Jesus teaches them what’s commonly referred to as “The Lord’s Prayer.” It would probably be more correct to call it “The Disciples Prayer.”

He doesn’t stop there though. Jesus goes on to tell them a story about a man who asks a friend for some bread so he can feed another friend of his who has just shown up for a visit. Since it’s midnight, his friend tells him to get lost. Jesus then explains the man may not get out of bed and give his friend the bread based on their friendship, but he will do it because of the guy’s “shameless persistence.”

The application Jesus makes is in the following verses: keep on asking, keep on seeking and keep on knocking, because eventually you’ll receive. He concludes His teaching on prayer by saying, “If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.”

This passage reminds me of Hebrews 11:6, which says, “…He rewards those who sincerely seek Him.”

We often talk about having a relationship with God and getting to know Him better. Well here’s something we can know about God: He values perseverance. He rewards those who sincerely seek Him. He answers the prayers of those who shamelessly persist.

Have you been praying for a family member to come to know Christ? Or for your marriage to be saved? Or a child to come to their senses?

Keep going. Don’t quit. If you’re going to be guilty of anything, don’t let it be quitting, let it be your shameless persistence. I know it’s hard and discouraging to keep praying for something when month after month, even year after year, the answer doesn’t come. God values your perseverance though. And somehow He will reward your sincere seeking.