If you’re a parent you know that if your child asks once, they ask a thousand times, if you’ve heard your name once, you’ve heard it a thousand times, and once they start talking, they usually don’t stop.

Last week the kids and I were on our way to the children’s museum, and I stopped at Starbucks to get a drink. When I pulled in the line Liam began asking for ice cream. “Momma, can I have some ice cream, mommy can you get me some ice cream, I really want ice cream, can you please get me some ice cream mommy?…” and on and on he asked. So much so that I couldn’t focus on thinking about what drink I was going to order because he wouldn’t stop talking.

Frustratingly, I told him “Son, I love you. I know what you like, I know what you need, and I will always take care of you.” “So we can have some ice cream mommy? Can we go somewhere else after this and get some?…” and on and on he went. Again, “SON. I LOVE YOU. I KNOW WHAT YOU WANT, I KNOW WHAT YOU NEED, I KNOW WHAT’S GOOD FOR YOU AND WHAT’S HARMFUL, AND I WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU.” I repeated louder than the first. I already knew when I planned to stop at Starbucks that it would be a sweet treat for Liam to have a little bit of the vanilla bean Frappuccino (yesss, it’s non-caffeinated). I had already decided I was going to purchase one and let him have a small bit of it. Why? Because, I love him, I know what he likes, I know what makes him happy and I wanted to share a treat with my son.

In that moment, the Lord spoke to me, Brittnee, I also often have already made my decision to care for you. I also love you. I know what you like, I know what you need, and I will always take care of you. Unlike the way you responded to Liam, I desire your prayer without ceasing, to ask persistently, to share your desires, fears, worries, triumphs and tragedies, and to intercede for others no matter what. I never get tired of hearing them and I won’t respond frustratingly to you.

Wow. What a throat punch.

In Luke 18 Jesus tells the parable of the persistent widow. The widow went persistently to the unrighteous judge asking him to give her justice against her adversary, day in and day out she went. The bible says “for a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming. And the Lord said, ‘Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily.”

Colossians 4:2 “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16- 18 says “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Psalm 102:17 “He regards the prayer of the destitute and does not despise their prayer.”

Matthew 18:4 “Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Mark 10:15 “Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”

Luke 11:9-10 “And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”

Friends, as with much of my children’s requests, God knows what we need before we need it. He knows our hearts desires, he knows what makes us smile, what excites us, what breaks our hearts, and what terrifies us. He is a good good Father. And yet he still wants us to flood His ears with our voice. What would it be like if our children never stopped talking? Are you guilty of that with the Lord?

Friends, it doesn’t matter that the Lord has already decided he is going to get you a vanilla bean frappe when you’re craving something sweet. Today and every day, pray. Flood your daddy’s ears.

Pray without ceasing.