PERSISTENCE OPENS DOORS

DAY 280 OF 365 IN 2021

Luke 11:8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless persistence, he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.

The kingdom of God should be received with childlike faith, not childish faith. Let’s break this down a little: being childish is associated with immaturity and irresponsibility. Those are things we need to grow out of. Childlike faith on the other hand alludes to openness, a sense of wonder and the ability to live in the present. Children do teach us how to live because with age, we became creatures of routine and lose our joy.

Happiness is however the regular state of children, they hold no pretence or hypocrisy, neither do they intend to please and so are always themselves. A child then, is unafraid to approach their parent at anytime to make requests. They have little regard what cares their parent have or what state their finances are in, they will scream, shout and cry to get what they want.

They will persist until what they seek is given them, or in the very least, an alternative that meets their needs is offered. Children therefore obtain what they ask often not just because their parents or guardians are able to provide it, but by virtue of their sheer persistence. Persistent determination does bear within it the potential to breakdown walls. Walls which familiarity or status are unable to overcome can come crumbling down in the face of persistence.

The parable of the widow and the judge presents some evidence when we recall the declaration of the Judge “although I neither fear God nor man, this widow is wearing me down with her persistence, let me give her what she wants.'(Luke 18:1-8)

Nonetheless, because of the potential that is wielded in persistence, it is important we are mindful of what things we opt to persist with– what relationships to push forward, what attitudes and habits to persist in, even what prayers  we continually bring before God.

Because our persistence can grant us access to doors which ought not be opened to us.

#sly