… ten lepers stood at a distance, crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy.” …
One day Jesus told His disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up … “The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests.’ Don’t you think God will surely give justice to His chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, He will grant justice to them quickly! …”
… But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, “O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will exalted.
… they scolded the parents for bothering him. Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples: “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. …”
So he began shouting, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” “Be quiet!” the people in front yelled at him. But he only shouted the louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” When Jesus heard him, he stopped and ordered that the man be brought to Him. … “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.”
Ask and keep on asking. Pray and don’t give up. Be audacious. God is never affronted by those trying to get near Him.
To the contrary, those who come to God must believe that He exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek Him intensely. Indeed, that is exactly who He is.
This is a low threshold. The reward of pressing in to know God and ask Him anything our heart craves is disproportionately huge.
Press past the naysayers, those who exalt etiquette over efficacy, propriety over passion, and form over fervor.
Be audacious. And expect His powerful and gracious response.