The Benefit of Persistent Prayer

By Mary Vee
Luke 11 

Peter

My name is Peter. 

Only moments ago, Jesus taught us the way to pray. I shared his instructions the last time I wrote. You can scroll down to read it.

After He finished the prayer, Jesus told us a story. He often did this before teaching a principle.

Jesus said, "Suppose one night, a friend came to your house after traveling on a long journey. You open the door and welcome him.

But you soon discover you have no food to give your guest.

You walk to your neighbor's house. He also is a good friend. You knock until the neighbor calls out, 'What do you want?'

"'Please,' you say, 'I have a guest who only just arrived after a long journey. I have no food to give him. Loan me three loaves of bread.'

"The neighbor answers, 'Go away. Don't bother me. The door is locked for the night. My children are in bed. I can't get up to give you anything.'

Photo by Mary
Land near Jerusalem

"Even with all of these excuses, the neighbor finally opens the door and shares three loaves of bread.

"He didn't do this because the one who asked was a friend. He gave the bread because the one who asked continued to ask.

"So I say, Ask and it will be given, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you."

Jesus explained what He meant by that teaching. I will share what he said the next time.

Come back to read the next story.

*Author of blog's note: If you have questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section. I will see them and will answer as best I can or direct you to a source.


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sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.
*Photos from my trip to Israel.

Daniel-The Epic Plot Against My Life

By Mary Vee
Daniel 6

From Daniel's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Daniel. I am a prophet of God and a prisoner in the land of Babylon with many other Jews.

Darius the Mede is the new king. He took the throne the same night his troops killed King Belshazzar. 

He set up his kingdom in this way: Three men were appointed as administrators serving under the king. I was one of the three.

Under us, 125 men served. They had the title of satrap and reported to the three administrators.

King Darius seemed very pleased with my work. He went so far as to say he would appoint me over the whole kingdom. The only person I would have to report to was him.

Everywhere I went the administrators and satraps watched me. Looking for any and every mistake I could make. I didn't feel pressure though. I did my best all the time, dedicating my service to God first and desiring to please the Almighty God by doing the work required by the king.

The one thing I really missed was friendship. All the people who worked near me kept their distance, yet watched my every move. I could see their eyes behind bushes, their feet sticking out from behind corners, their ears tuned to my every word. They grunted and groaned when they failed t catch me doing something wrong, hungry to get rid of me in some way.

My goal was not to please them but to live as a worker who was trustworthy, not corrupt or negligent.

Their goal seemed crystal clear. They didn't hide their desires. They said loud enough for me to hear, "We will never find any reason to bring a charge against Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God."

"Daniel," a servant came to me. He seemed very upset. "The administrators and satraps have gone before the king. They said, 'O King Darius, live forever! The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue a law and enforce it. The law should say this: Anyone who prays to any god or man during the next thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be town into the lions' den. 

"Now, O king, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered--in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be changed.'"

"The king thought for a moment. He seemed really pleased with the idea. He said, "Good idea." He called to his scribe and put the words into writing.

"What are you going to do? If you are caught praying as you do everyday, you will be thrown into the lions' den."

I had several choices, actually. I could pray in secret. I could simply pray inside my head where no one would hear me. Or I could continue to pray, kneeling by my window as I always have in the past. But praying at the window meant anyone would see me.

Come back next time to see what happens.

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1. Who did the new king, Darius place in the top three men over the kingdom.
2. What did the king think of Daniel's work?
3. Why were the satraps and other administrators jealous of Daniel?
4. How did they plan to get Daniel in trouble?

5. Did the king agree to the idea?

6. What do you think Daniel will do?

Daniel-Sigh--Seven More Years

By Mary Vee
Daniel 9

From Daniel's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Daniel. I am a prophet of God and a prisoner in the land of Babylon with many other Jews.

I recently received the words given by God to the prophet Jeremiah. The message said we would be in captivity a total of seventy years. We had seven more to go.

I suppose I should have been happy that we had served sixty three years and only had seven more to go. But, I must admit, I wanted to go home. I wanted to go back to the home where I lived as a boy.

My heart ached for the other Jews living as captives here in Babylon. Seven years can seem so long.

I bowed by my prayer window and said this prayer on the behalf of all the Jews living here in captivity:

"O great and awesome God, You are the one who keeps Your covenant of love with all who love You and obey Your commands, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled. We have turned away from Your commands and laws. We have not listened to Your servants the prophets who speak in your name to our kings, princes, our fathers, and all the people of the land.

"Lord You are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame because of our unfaithfulness to You. You, O Lord are merciful and forgiving even though we have rebelled against You. We have not obeyed You or kept the laws You gave us through Your servants and prophets. We have all sinned and turned away, refusing to obey You.

"The curses written in the Law of Moses have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against You. You have done what You said You would do. Still we have not searched for Your favor by turning away from our sins and giving attention to Your truth. You have been righteous in bringing this disaster on us because we did not obey You.

"O Lord, in keeping with all Your righteous ways, turn away Your anger from us. Please hear my words, I am Your servant. Look at the empty sanctuary and city that bears Your Name. We are not asking because we are righteous, but because of Your great mercy. 

"O Lord, please listen! Please forgive. O Lord, please hear and act. Do not delay. Your city and Your people bear Your Name. Forgive us."

While I was still speaking to the Almighty God and praying to Him, Gabriel, the man I had seen before, appeared before me. It took me by surprise.

Come back next time to see what happened.

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1. How many years had the people of Judah been captives in Babylon?
2. How many more years did the people have to serve as captives?
3. How did Daniel know?
4. What did Daniel do for the people of Judah?
5. Who suddenly appeared before Daniel while he was praying?

Daniel-The Sad Message

By Mary Vee
Daniel 9

From Daniel's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Daniel. I am a prophet of God and a prisoner in the land of Babylon with many other Jews.

King Belshazzar was murdered. The new ruler is Darius the Mede. I and the other Jewish captives have lived in Babylon serving the Babylonians for sixty-three years. I pray each day that we can go back to our homeland, Judah.

I guess I had hoped Darius the Mede would choose to set us free.

I fully understand why we are here. Words written by Jeremiah the prophet have been passed from hand to hand for all the Jews here in Babylon to read.

Baruch, Jeremiah's scribe saw that the words came to us. As is our custom, each person gathered around his friends and neighbors, read the words then gave them to those who had not seen them yet. 

Recently a servant delivered the message to me. It said, God had told Jeremiah that we would be prisoners for seventy years. I had to sit down after reading those words. We had another seven years to go before God would allow us to return to Jerusalem. 

These seven more years would end the punishment for what we had done. In the past. But what about the things we have done against God's commands while here in Babylon? Would our time as captives come to an end or not?

My heart sank. I couldn't eat. 

I had long ago read of Job's trials. His stories were told here not long ago. (Scroll down to see them or search in the search bar for his story). How he prayed for his children and loved them so much he offered sacrifices for the things they had done wrong--sins he knew and didn't know about. 

The only way we as a nation of Jews would return to our homeland, farm our land, raise our families where our fathers raised us, and have the freedom to worship the Almighty God is to confess and pray for forgiveness.

Since I am kept apart from the other Jewish prisoners as a servant of the king here in the palace, I have no choice, but to do as Job did.

So I bowed my knees and faced my prayer window.

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1. Who was the new king?
2. What happened to King Belshazzar? (look back at the last Bible story for this answer).
3. What words did Daniel receive and read?
4. What was the sad message?
5. What did the people need to do?

Hezekiah-What to Do When the Bully Comes Back

By Mary Vee
II Kings 18 and II Chronicles

From the Journals of Hezekiah

Photo courtesy

Sennacherib, king of Assyria was an evil man. He has been bullying my people. This king told the people of Jerusalem that God couldn't help them. He also said they should surrender to him and he would take good care of them. Of course he wasn't telling the truth.

God sent a message to me, Hezekiah, king of Judah and loyal servant of the Almighty God, saying not to be concerned. He would punish Sennacherib.

Sennacherib heard that the king of Egypt was marching across the land to fight him. After hearing the report he sent messengers to me again. Can you imagine that?

I am not afraid of him because God said He would take care of the problem. 

Still I will tell you what Sennacherib said, "Do not let the god you depend on deceive you when he says Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria. Surely you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the countries, destroying them completely. And will you be delivered? Did the gods of the nations that were destroyed by my forefathers deliver them? The gods of Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden who were in Tel Assar. Where are all those kings? You will end up like them.

I did not answer him.

Instead I went up to the temple of the Lord and laid the papers with the message out before the Lord. I prayed these words: 

"O Lord, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Give ear, O Lord, and hear. Open your eyes, O Lord, and see. Listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God. 

"It is true, O Lord that the Assyrian kings have laid waste all these nations and their lands. They have thrown their gods into the fire an destroyed them, for they were not god but only wood and stone, made by men's hands. Now, O Lord our God, deliver us from his hand so that all the kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O Lord are God."

Come back next time to see what God said. 

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1. What lies did Sennacherib tell the people of Jerusalem?
2. Even after he heard the king of Egypt was marching against him, Sennacherib did what?
3. Did Hezekiah listen to the bully's words?
4. What did Hezekiah do?

Jonah-Flying Out of the Fish's Mouth

Mary Vee
Jonah 2

From the Jonah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

I woke. Still in the great fish. Nothing had changed. I didn't want to be here any longer and needed God's help to get me out. From my calculations I've been here for three days.

I raised my hands and prayed to God:

“I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble,
    and he answered me.
I called to you from the land of the dead,
    and Lord, you heard me!
 You threw me into the ocean depths,
    and I sank down to the heart of the sea.
The mighty waters engulfed me;
    I was buried beneath your wild and stormy waves.
 Then I said, ‘O Lord, you have driven me from your presence.
    Yet I will look once more toward your holy Temple.’

 “I sank beneath the waves,
    and the waters closed over me.
    Seaweed wrapped itself around my head.
 I sank down to the very roots of the mountains.
    I was imprisoned in the earth,
    whose gates lock shut forever.
But you, O Lord my God,
    snatched me from the jaws of death!
 As my life was slipping away,
    I remembered the Lord.
And my earnest prayer went out to you
    in your holy Temple.
 Those who worship false gods
    turn their backs on all God’s mercies.
 But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise,
    and I will fulfill all my vows.
    For my salvation comes from the Lord alone.”

The fish shook. 

Whatever I sat on moved, first back then forward, then back and like a bird I flew out of the fish's mouth into the air. I flung my arms trying to balance myself before crashing. I landed on the soft sands of the beach. Warm. Bright.

The sun tickled my eyes to open. I took a deep breath and smelled fresh air. God had rescued me.

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1. What did Jonah finally decide to do?
2. Who was the only one who could help him?
3. Tell some things Jonah said in his prayer?
4. What do you think it felt like to be spat out of the fish?

David- An Earnest Prayer

By Mary Vee
II Samuel 12

From David's Journal

The Lord sent Nathan to tell me something important, I wrote to you about it the last time. Click here to read the story.

Why did God send a prophet to tell the king of his chosen nation a message in story form? God wanted to open my eyes to the great sin I had committed. 

I became greedy and took another man's wife. To cover my sin I sent the husband to battle and ordered the captain to place the woman's husband where he would be killed. He, of course, died. Months later,the man's wife gave birth to my child.

And now the baby lay in a bed nearby. The little one had a terrible illness which could kill him. This was the punishment God gave me. The moment I heard of the baby's sickness I fell to the ground, crying, pleading with God for the child life. I lay there on the earth, refusing to get up for food or meeting or conversation.

Oh, Lord, hear my aching heart. 

I fasted, devoting every moment to asking God's grace, to change His mind and save the life of the child.

The elders came to me. They tried words to console me, brought food, to get me to get up from the ground. They didn't understand my ache. My need to plead to devote every bit of strength to pleading with the Lord.

Seven days later, servants stood near the room. They whispered softly, but I could tell from the tone that the child had died. 

"Is the child dead?" I asked.

"Yes, my lord, he is dead."

I pressed my body up from the earth and stood. God had answered and now I needed to go back to my duties. I washed, anointed myself, changed my clothes to present myself clean before the Lord and walked to the house of the Lord and worshiped Him for a long time.

Praise your Name, oh Lord my God.

I didn't dance, but I sang and praised Him with my whole heart. After a time I walked back to my house and asked for food. My servants hurried to the kitchen and brought me something to eat right away. 

The servant's eyes had grown wide, as if surprised. He said, "I don't understand. You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive, but when the child died you got up from the ground and ate food."

"While the child was alive," I said, "I fasted and cried to God. I said to myself, 'Who can tell whether the Lord will be gracious to me and let the child live?' But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him one day, but he will not come back to me.

I went to my wife, Bathesheba, and comforted her.

This is a Psalm I have sung. You call it Psalm 19

How clearly the sky reveals God's glory!
    How plainly it shows what he has done!
 Each day announces it to the following day;
    each night repeats it to the next.
 No speech or words are used,
    no sound is heard;
 yet their message^[b] goes out to all the world
    and is heard to the ends of the earth.
God made a home in the sky for the sun;
     it comes out in the morning like a happy bridegroom,
    like an athlete eager to run a race.
 It starts at one end of the sky
    and goes across to the other.
    Nothing can hide from its heat.

 The law of the Lord is perfect;
    it gives new strength.
The commands of the Lord are trustworthy,
    giving wisdom to those who lack it.
 The laws of the Lord are right,
    and those who obey them are happy.
The commands of the Lord are just
    and give understanding to the mind.
 Reverence for the Lord is good;
    it will continue forever.
The judgments of the Lord are just;
    they are always fair.
 They are more desirable than the finest gold;
    they are sweeter than the purest honey.
 They give knowledge to me, your servant;
    I am rewarded for obeying them.

 None of us can see our own errors;
    deliver me, Lord, from hidden faults!
 Keep me safe, also, from willful sins;
    don't let them rule over me.
Then I shall be perfect
    and free from the evil of sin.

 May my words and my thoughts be acceptable to you,
    O Lord, my refuge and my redeemer!

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photo courtesy of visualbibleimages.com  scripture from the Good News Translation

1. Who had God sent to speak with David.
2. What sin did David do?
3. When the baby became sick, what did David do?
4. Who tried to comfort him?
5. What happened to the baby?
6. When David heard the news what did he do?
7. David's servants were surprised when he asked for food. David gave this explanation:

Joseph Listens to God

By Mary Vee
Genesis 47:13-

"My lord, it's time to get up."

Joseph struggled to open his eyes.  "The sun's up already?"

"Yes, my lord. There are hundreds of people in the court."

Joseph sat up and yawned. "More than usual?"

"I've never seen this many.  They're asking for bread but have no money left."

After washing his face and dressing, Joseph walked to the balcony overlooking the court.  He listened for a moment to the grumblings of the people.  "I'll take care of this.  You may go."

As the guard closed the door Joseph dropped to his knees.  "Great God of my fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, show me how to help these people."  He kept his head bowed until a solution came to him.

Joseph walked down to the court.  He called the workers to meet with him. "To any man who has no money to pay for grain, you must accept his livestock as payment."  The workers nodded and returned to their posts.

Joseph climbed the stairs to the platform and raised his hands.  Everyone in the court hushed. "I have instructed the workers to allow any man without money to pay for his grain with livestock."  Before he lowered his arms, the citizens cheered. 

Joseph stayed in the court for the morning insuring each person received grain.  The people traded horses, flocks, cattle, and donkeys for their grain.  We need to set up a place for these animals. They need food and water.  Joseph called the head guards.  "Gather your men. Set up separate areas for each type animal. Hire men to care for them." 

The guard bowed. "Yes, my lord."

A year of nights passed quickly.  Despite his busy schedule, Joseph made time to visit his father and brothers as often as possible.  He loved listening to their stories and joking with the family.

One morning, back at his home, a guard woke him.  "The people have filled the court again."

Joseph washed his face and dressed.  He gazed at the crowds below. He tried not to yawn. "Oh, to sleep longer. I'm tired."  He listened to the people then dismissed the guard.

Once again, Joseph fell to his knees. "God please help me to feed these people.  What can I do?"  Moments later, he had an idea.  Joseph went down to the court and called another meeting. "To any man who is willing to give himself and his land let him have grain.  Record each man's name and his land as a witness of payment."

Joseph climbed up to the platform and raised his hands. "I know you are hungry and that you have given your money and livestock.  If you are willing to give yourself and your land you will receive grain." 

The people cheered. "Thank you! We'll gladly give our lives and land, what good are they if we don't have food?"

Joseph stepped down and called the captain of the guard. "Be sure not to take payment from the priests.  They are to receive all the grain they need without cost. Also give seed to every man who buys grain."

"Yes, my lord."

Joseph went back up to the platform and held up his hands. The people hushed.  "Now that I have bought you and your land for Pharaoh, take this seed and sow the land. When harvest comes, you are to give one-fifth of the grain to Pharaoh. The rest will be yours as seen and food."

The people cheered again.  "You've saved our lives!"

So Joseph made it a law in all of Egypt that one-fifth of all harvests shall go to Pharaoh except the harvest of the priests. The people stayed in their homes and planted grain.

Why do you think Joseph didn't make the priest pay for the grain?  What did Joseph do when he didn't know how to help the people?  What can you do when you don't know what to do?