Well, then there's this:
Luke 18:1-8
[18:1] Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. [2] He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. [3] And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary."
[4] "For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, [5] yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!' "
[6] And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. [7] And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? [8] I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
I'm sure there's a lot about this parable I do not understand, but perhaps it does advocate persistent prayer. Thoughts?
That is exactly what Jesus pointed out about this parable by saying "a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up." And there are other Scripture that indicate the same thing as well.
Acts 10:2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and
prayed to God always.
Rom 12:12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation,
continuing steadfastly in prayer;
Eph 6:18
praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
1Thess 5:17
pray without ceasing,
v. 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Col 4:2
Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;
Php 4:6 Be anxious for nothing,
but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
To me it's not a question of bothering God too much with all our supplications to Him, or even repeating our needs to Him... He wants us to turn to Him first and foremost with everything! Why wouldn't we, as the Scripture say, pray always?
But I'm inclined to think like rickylittleton, that this continued/always/without ceasing pray, of course, could not be speaking of formal, on your knees type prayers. But prayer can take many different forms (worship, thanksgiving, on others behalf, in distress, for resisting temptation, etc), and I think meditating on things of God is a form of pray as well. I think it's more of having your mind constantly attuned to God, in the Spirit of prayer... to be in constant contact with God in whatever form needed for a situation.
In Ray's article 'Praying by God's Rules,' his final comment was...
http://bible-truths.com/praying.htm --------------
Don’t hesitate to thank God for your trials and tribulations and persecutions—they are qualifying you for the incorruptible and immortal Kingdom of God. Answered prayer is a major proof that God exists and that God loves. Obey God’s rules governing prayer, and you too will begin to experience God’s intervention into your life. And finally, the second shortest verse in the Bible:
"Pray without ceasing" (I Thes. 5:17)!
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mercy, peace and love
Kat