Grace & Love Christian Fellowship

JAMES – PRAYER AND PERTINACITY

Jesus is sitting quietly by himself when James approaches him.

JAMES Eh, Jesus.

JESUS Yes, James.

JAMES Can I ask you a question.

JESUS Yes, you have James.

JAMES I have what?

JESUS You have just asked a question.

JAMES Then can I ask another one?

JESUS Yes, you obviously can. You just have.

JAMES I just have what?

JESUS You have just asked another question.

JAMES I see it’s going to be one of those days when we can’t get a
straight answer out of you, Jesus. I may as well give up while I
am behind.

JESUS Pertinacity, James, pertinacity.

JAMES Pertinacity? Have you swallowed a dictionary or something?

What on earth does pertinacity mean?

JESUS Was that the question you wanted to ask? What is pertinacity?

JAMES No Jesus, that is an extra one. The question I came to ask is

this. We disciples have been talking and I was sent up here to
settle an argument about prayer. When we pray, should we ask
just once and trust God will answer, or should we pray for the
same thing over and over again?

JESUS That is a good question, James. And what did you all think the
answer was?

JAMES Well Thomas said we should ask once and trust God for an
answer. He says that to keep asking for the same thing over and
over again is to show a lack of faith. John said we should keep
asking until we see the answer.
JESUS Both are right of course. Sometimes we need to ask only once,
but sometimes we need to keep asking. Remember the story of
the persistent widow. She went back every day until she got
justice. Should we pray for our nation only once? Should you
pray for our families only once? Remember when you came
and asked me how to pray? How did I say should we pray for
about food?

JAMES Give us today our day’s bread.

JESUS Exactly. We pray for today’s food today. We pray for today’s
situations today. At times James you will pray and see an
instantaneous miracle. Even the crippled lame will jump up and
walk when you speak to them in my name. But sometimes
huge changes are made through many, many tiny steps. You
should pray for today’s situation. If yesterday’s prayer still
stands, pray it again today. Our Heavenly Father wants us to
have faith for both the instantaneous miracles and for the small
changes that make big miracles happen in time. Both take faith,
but one also takes tenacious persistence, which is what
pertinacity means.

JAMES Well that clears that up. While I am on a roll, I have another
question which will not take pertinacity to get an answer.

JESUS Oh, Yes! And what is that?

JAMES Are you ready for lunch?

JESUS The question may not take pertinacity James, but if you cooked
the lunch again it may take pertinacity to chew it.

JAMES Then I’ll just pray that our teeth don’t wear out, Jesus!

JESUS With pertinacity I hope, with pertinacity!