“Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this story: Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, ‘A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.’ And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can’t help you.’ But I tell you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence. And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” Luke 11:5-9 NLT
Training your dog requires focus, repetition, and communication. It also requires patience. Combine all these things and you get persistence. A young dog is eager to please, and with a growing mind can learn quickly. But I would also say you can teach an “old dog new tricks,” but it is easier if you have already laid a training foundation.
First, you have to gain the dog’s attention. This can be accomplished with a signal or a sound. With Famous, I used a “clicker.” When you introduce one, you simply “click” and immediately give a treat, click and treat, over and over again. Ah! Click means treat! But then there is a twist. Command and obey. You do not get the treat unless you do what I command. Do it, and you will hear a click and get a treat. With repetition, the behavior becomes responsive to the command and rewarded with a click, and not necessarily a flavorful treat, but a reward of praise and attention for a job well done.
Persistence helps us to stay connected to God. When we are persistent in our desires and in our prayers we approach the world with open eyes. We also learn to review those desires as God reveals the plan for our lives. The reward is an attitude of praise.
Dear God, I pray for courage to be bold in my desires and persistence in looking for Your response.
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