As I was mowing the yard this morning, it occurred to me that there were a few more things that I should have said about prayer yesterday which I couldn't get to because of the time. the greatest difficulty with the Luke 11 passage on prayer is that it is easy to read Christ's words to ask and therefore receive and think that prayer is some sort of cosmic vending machine where we stick our coin in the slot out and out pops what we've selected. Then, when what WE are praying for doesn't come out like we envisioned, we find ourselves disappointed.

  For many of us, Jesus' words are important for we fail to ask, and then wonder why we struggle to find meaning and purpose. But there are some among us who have asked regularly and still continue to struggle in life. For those folks, there is a disconnect with Christ's words. 

  Of course, part of the problem is that our vision is not God's vision. It may very well be that God is answering us, meeting our needs in some way that we can't fully see. There is a mystery to prayer in which we live by faith, offering our needs and desires to God and then allowing God to do what God will, whether it conforms to our vision or not. 

  But I think part of the problem is that we fail to fully understand what Jesus is getting at in his call for persistent prayer. I believe that Christ is trying to help those who would follow him understand that prayer is a discipline which forms us simply because we do it. It isn't a cosmic vending machine, but rather is more like a personal growth program where simply doing it changes us, regardless of the outcome. In a real sense, we pray our way into clarity by coming about and doing it again, and again, and again, trusting that in the end God will provide as God always does. We pray not to get something, but because we are changed and conformed into the image of Christ by praying. 

  It's easy to say this, but much harder to practice in daily life. We are, after all, a people who want results (and live in a society where results matter). And yet, like so much in the life of faith, I think Jesus may be suggesting that the process is more important than the outcome. "Keep praying..." he says, "...because  you will be changed by doing it."

  What helps you in being disciplined in prayer? How have you been changed by regularly talking with God. I would love to hear your comments on this as we work together to become a praying people.