If there is one thing Luke shows us in his gospel, it’s the tie-in of Jesus’ ministry with prayer. When Jesus would give himself to prayer (and Luke points it out early and often) something happened.

It’s no wonder that the disciples finally get it in Luke 11. They see Jesus praying yet again and finally got the courage up to say, “Lord, teach us to pray.”

We have a shorter version of the “Lord’s Prayer” that follows. But it’s not just that. Jesus then gives an illustration. The illustration is about persistence. It is about shameless audacity (Luke 11:8, NIV).

If we have a need, will we keep at it or not? Will we keep seeking the Father with this request or not? Maybe I’ve asked for a matter 100 times. If I have not heard an answer on the matter, then I need to ask 101 times.

Let us not give up quickly in prayer. That’s our lesson in our culture. But it’s more than that. Let us just not give up.