The persistent widow. What’s the difference between persistent and nagging? For one thing, no one wants to become a “nagger”. Is that a word?
Just because I have the time, I decided to look up nag and persistent. Don’t judge…things are kind of slow here early in the morning.
Persistent= continue firmly in spite of obstacles and resistance, or to endure over a long period of time.
Nag-constant harassing another to do something, or persistent worry or pain (ie: I have a nagging headache)
So, both of them have one quality that is the same, they don’t go away easily. But persistence is more noble in the way it requests. I would say that our goal is to be persistent without becoming a nag. In my mind, a self-absorbed person, possibly with feelings of inferiority would resort to nagging. Both might be thinking “I’m not getting what I want/deserve and I don’t have the power to just go out and make it happen, I have to get someone to do it for me” but the nagger seems more juvenile in their approach.
You and I have great standing with God in heaven. Once we have confessed our sins we are adopted into Christ’s family. By Christ’s own words, we are filled with His Spirit and included in the great awareness that circulates between the Father, Son and Spirit. The very idea of it brings me to tears. Tears of joy, tears because I realize that I have been blessed beyond measure, tears of thankfulness. The kind of tears that flow once you realize you could have died, but now you’re safe. The kind of tears that come when you realize you’ve been given a gift so large you will never have to worry about money again. All of that, and so much more is who we are in Jesus Christ.
Thinking of that, nagging seems to be a little “below our station” right? But God himself is telling us to persist. We are being encouraged to take up the noble calling of carrying our requests before God, as members of the family, as participants in the divine nature. We have influence because of our position and station. We have God’s ear because we are more than widows…we are His Children.
What are you “persisting” for in prayer today? Do you have friends who are in need? What are you asking God for on their behalf?
In the face of the viral threat making it’s way through American (and the globe) what are you asking God for?
I’m praying for the wisdom to ask correctly. Just because I am a child of God doesn’t mean that I know everything. It’s possible I could ask God the for the exact wrong thing, and perhaps He would even grant my request (as a way of teaching me).
What I want to do is to ask the right things in the right way…persistently. I don’t want to “demand” of heaven, and I don’t want to claim authority that doesn’t belong to me. But I do what to operate inside the mind and body of Christ, because that’s where I am called to live.
“Father, grant to me the wisdom to pray correctly, and give me the love and compassion for others that will keep me persistent in my prayers”
Loving Jesus,
PR