Today’s Key Scripture

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”

— Hebrews 10:23

 

An intriguing story has been passed down through the centuries about one of Greece’s best-known philosophers. According to the legend, a young man came to the teacher with an urgent request: “I have walked 1,500 miles from my home to Athens to gain wisdom and learning. I want learning, so I came to you. Can you give it to me?”

“Come, follow me,” said the teacher, leading the student to the seashore, quickly wading until the water reached their waists. Then the older man grabbed his youthful companion and pushed his head under the water, holding him momentarily under the surface. Finally, he laid the would-be pupil on the shore and returned to the marketplace.

When the young man regained his strength, he walked back to challenge the teacher: “You are a man of learning and wisdom! Why did you treat me so badly?”

“When you were under the water,” the teacher asked, “what was the one thing you wanted more than anything else?”

“I wanted air!”

Then the great philosopher reportedly said, “When you want wisdom and understanding as badly as you wanted air, you won’t have to ask anyone to give it to you. You will get it on your own!”

So it must be with persevering prayer!

 

A Prayer for Today

Father in heaven, I want You. I want to persevere in prayer with You. I want to know more about You. I ask for Your wisdom and understanding. I’m so thankful that You sent Your Son to die on the cross so that I might have salvation and access to You. I trust You. I give You my life daily. Give me a heart that trusts You more every day. I desire to move deeper and deeper in intimacy with You, even as You desire to take me far below the surface in my relationship with You. Lord, I pray all this in Jesus’ holy name, amen.

 

*All Scripture references are NKJV unless otherwise noted.