Excerpts from Gloria's Mind

^{Luke 11:1-10
1} One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

² He said to them, “When you pray, say: “‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. ³ Give us each day our daily bread.⁴ Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.And lead us not into temptation.”

⁵ Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread;(Hey, God, I have a need) ⁶ a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’(It's my husband, he needs help. He's been on this journey for 4 years, and he's starving and I have nothing for him) ⁷ And suppose the one inside(God)answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. (The hour is late...it's too late. I've done everything I will do today)I can’t get up and give you anything.’(Things are in order, in their right place, position. I'm not moving. This (day) is over, set. I know we are friends, but...)

⁸ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your persistence he will surely get up and give you as much as you need. (I''m not leaving, until you get up and answer the door.)

⁹ “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

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I often struggle with prayer. "STRUGGLE" you say? Yes. Struggle. Bad. Oh, I hear it now. Those out there, those well meaning friends who say, "STRUGGLE? It's God will to heal. Healing is for everyone if we just have the faith to claim the healing. The bible says if we ask anything in his name, he'll do it."

So, today I turn to Luke, and in this teaching, Jesus shows me the hour is late, things are in set in order for the day and he's not getting up...

Prayer for me is tuff stuff. I want to weed the garden once a year. I want to exercise once to lose 50 pounds. I want one bite of chocolate to satiate my choco craving. I want to pray once and things be done. As I study God's word today, I turn to my Zodhiates reference books to find find that the verbs ask (aitéō - ask, request, beg, by the inferior to the superior) seek (zētéō- strive to find) and knock (kroúō- to rap at a door for entrance) in the original language they are written in (Greek) are all in the present tense, which means they are continuous or habitual action. So, I have to keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking. I need to be persistent. I am NOT to stop.

AND NEITHER ARE YOU...

The hour is late (it's been a long day--4 years--) The need is great (just read 4 years worth of the blog...ugh) Seems things are set for the night. (Jim's in pain and his health is poor and there is nothing that can be done about it.)

OR IS THERE?

Would you be persistent with me in prayer. I know some of you have. And maybe some of you, like me, have asked, not received, and well...walk away in confusion, just not understanding the things of God. In the process of our prayers we have communion with God. Come, eat and drink with me. Let's have fun, "storming the castle."

Specifically. Healing, wisdom, peace.

Thank you. K, over and out. Time to vedge.