“Shameless persistence.” My BFF briefly told me about a Bible Study session she led last week. I remember her using this phrase from Luke 11.
“I tell you—because of your shameless persistence, even though it’s the middle of the night, your friend will get up out of his bed and give you all that you need.” Luke 11:8 TPT
The NIV says, “shameless audacity” and the CSB says “shameless boldness”. No matter how it’s translated, the point is that it relates to carrying out God’s plan with “unembarassed boldness” as noted in HELPS Word-studies. No shame, no feeling ‘some-kinda-way’ about bringing your requests before God.
Some of my boldest prayer requests are related to my powerlifting. As a 60-year-old competitive lifter, my fervent desire is to impact younger women. I pray for open doors of opportunity to speak into lives with unembarrassed boldness.The roughest day of my training is worth the price to be a listening ear to someone in need of support. At the gym, out in public, on social media, wherever, whenever, and however God chooses to use me, I’m willing.
Shameless Persistence
Do you have this kind of boldness? I confess that this is new for me. Perhaps turning 60 unlocked my shamelessness? Like so many women of my generation, I was taught to play small. To let my husband take centerstage and be his greatest supporter.
Please don’t misunderstand me. I have willingly stood at his side and done my part as a seminary student wife, a pastor’s wife, a missionary wife, and any other role my husband needed me to fill over the past 41 years. And I was blessed with incredible learning experiences along the way. Now it’s time to do something with the wisdom gleaned from years of tears and hard knocks.
How can we be more persistent in prayer? What posture do we take to plead our case before the Almighty? Shameless persistence grabs hold of our calling and presses in to pray, to weep, to fast before the Lord until He answers.
“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Luke 11:9-10 CSB
Ask, seek, knock, shamelessly persist in prayer, dear one. It will be worth it!