Should we pray repeatedly for something?

[dreuby]

Do you think we should pray repeatedly for something - for example, a friend or relative who is ill?

As a parent it drives me bonkers when my children ask repeatedly for something, after I've already answered, maybe with no, or with "next week", etc.

So should we just ask God once for something, or should we pray repeatedly? What do you think?

[jamesglewisf]

Luke 11:5-13
5Then He said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and goes to him at midnight and says to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves;

6for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him';

7and from inside he answers and says, 'Do not bother me; the door has already been shut and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.'

8"I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

9"So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

10"For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened.

11"Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he?

12"Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he?

13"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?"

Luke 18:1-8
1Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart,

2saying, "In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man.

3"There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, 'Give me legal protection from my opponent.'

4"For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, 'Even though I do not fear God nor respect man,

5yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.'"

6And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge said;

7now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them?

8"I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?"

[jamesglewisf]

2 Samuel 12:15-23
15 After Nathan had gone home, the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife had borne to David, and he became ill. 16 David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and went into his house and spent the nights lying on the ground. 17 The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food with them.

18 On the seventh day the child died. David's servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they thought, "While the child was still living, we spoke to David but he would not listen to us. How can we tell him the child is dead? He may do something desperate."

19 David noticed that his servants were whispering among themselves and he realized the child was dead. "Is the child dead?" he asked.

"Yes," they replied, "he is dead."

20 Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate.

21 His servants asked him, "Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!"

22 He answered, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, 'Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.' 23 But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me."

[Dude111]

I think if someone believes in God there is no reason to keep praying for the same thing....

Those who keep praying either 1) Arent sure about God or 2) Really want it bad.

[jamesglewisf]

That's contrary to Scripture. Jesus told that parable so that people would be persistent in prayer and not lose hope.

[Radu]

I think it's alright to pray repeatedly for something. It shows fervency and that it's something that you really want.

The more work you put into something, the more it's worth to you. If you're willing to pray repeatedl and do all that you can for it, then you're showing God that it means a lot to you and that you will truly value whatever blessing he gives you. I believe he's more willing to bless you if he knows that you will not pass it off as coincidence.

Now, with that said, the scriptures also condemn vain repetition in the sense that you say the same words without any meaning. If you just say "please bless this meal" out of rote memory, then that doesn't do you any good.