Shameless audacity in prayer

Shameless audacity in prayer

Shame is one such burden which is uneasy to bare. Its weight is heavy on those found guilty of crimes they have committed. In fact, shame places a direct attack reputation, dignity and status of its victims. It cares less of social ranking when it hangs around their necks in public. Yet, while talking about prayer, Jesus shares a story that tells us not to be shameful about praying. There is no shame in praying to God.  Let me announce to you:

In many several ways, we try to avoid being caught up in any shameful act or ridiculed by our friends. In order to avoid being shamed, we either hide or keep mute concerning our faith, particularly prayer. For example, there are a number of believers who would not speak in tongues when praying. When talking about prayer, Jesus likened praying, the need to be persistent to a man who went asking for bread at midnight. Clearly, this man in the passage did not allow the concern of shame deter him from knocking at his friend’s door at midnight. We too must not be ashamed or afraid to pray at all times. We must be audacious. Here is how we can be audacious in prayer.

What constitutes shameless audacity in prayer

Persistency

Did you notice, the first response given by the friend inside the house according to the passage? This was his response ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything’. With this answer, one would expect that he would go knocking on other doors and probably unfriended ‘this friend of his’. Instead, he kept knocking and probably drawing attention to the scene. Right there, according to Jesus is the reason his friend would give him the bread. Despising the shame and talk that would be on the lips of the neighbours the next day, he kept asking. Regardless of the hour, we must persist in prayer. We also learn from the passage that, prayer must not be a religious act only. Jews at the time had times of the day when they prayed (Acts 3:1). Here, it was midnight which was not among the times of prayer. We learn that God is always ready to hear us if we don’t give up praying. Notable among people in the Bible who didn’t give up because of shame includes the woman with the issue of blood, blind Bartimaeus, the widow who went to a Judge to plead her case (Luke 18).

Overcome critics

Yes, people may begin to laugh or even say after all your prayers, there is nothing to show for it. There are others who will even tell you to apply ‘common sense’ and stop disturbing God with your prayers. To such persons, I dare ask them to tell me the source of their common sense. If it isn’t God who gave it to them I’m not interested. The Bible says;

To be audacious in prayer means you should be able to overlook the unpleasantness around you and fix your eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2). Is this possible? Yes, and God will give you the strength to pray. During the covid-19 pandemic in China, it was not just a fight against the virus but also our faith. Some considered it useless to pray. Forgetting that the solution remained wth God who could put it in the mind and hearts of scientist. Critics will always come in diverse forms but don’t be carried away by their loose talk.

Faith

First, we must understand that praying is an act of faith. When you take faith out, prayer is only a babbling on the tongue. Notice how Apostle James puts it;

So, when you engage in prayer, aside from the seriousness, shamelessness, and audacity there must be faith. I will leave you with one of my favourite Bible texts;

Keep praying and have faith in God who answers prayers.

Stay blessed!