My Persistent Pup: A Lesson on Prayer

On By Beth AlisanIn Lessons

My shadow now comes in the form of a black Labrador Retriever.  The intensity of Adi’s shadowing changes about an hour before her dinner-time.  At this point, nothing deters her from following me step for step.  Each time I look at her, she gives me a look that says, “Remember me. I need fed.”  Regardless of how many minutes tick by or how hungry her belly becomes, she doesn’t lose heart.  She doesn’t whine or go find someone else to feed her or worse take matters into her own hands.  She simply waits for me to walk to her bowl and fill it with food.  Why?  She knows I will.  I always do. 

One evening as I was chopping vegetables for supper, I looked at the Lab lying at my feet gazing up at me with that look and the word “persistent” came to mind.  As I chewed on that word, I thought of Jesus’ parable of the persistent widow.  The story begins, “And He told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart (Luke 18:1).” In these days when evil seems so prevalent, when society scoffs at prayer, and when my prayers for loved ones seem to be unanswered, I was reminded of the importance of persistently praying.  Why?  Because He hears and answers.  He always does.  (Psalm 34, Matthew 7:7-8).

May I be like my Lab, faithfully shadowing my Savior in persistent prayer not losing heart.

“Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer.  That calls me from a world of care.  And bids me at my Father’s throne.  Make all my wants and wishes known!  In seasons of distress and grief  my soul has often found relief, and oft escaped the tempter’s snare by thy return, sweet hour of prayer.”  -Hymn by William Walford*

*Walford, William.  (1845).  “Sweet Hour of Prayer” [Lyrics].  Retrieved from URL https://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Sweet_Hour_of_Prayer/

© 2019-2023, Lessons from a Lab, Beth Alisan.  All Rights Reserved.

15 thoughts on “My Persistent Pup: A Lesson on Prayer”

  1. Wonderful post Beth, and so accurate. Our dogs are persistent. Mine know the exact time of feeding even if I am distracted and lose track of time. Wonderful song also. Speaking to the Father is the one thing that calms my spirit and lessens my worries.

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  5. PATRICIA A BURKHART

    Thanks for the beautiful reminder of God’s love and provision. My dog actually barks at me close to suppertime if I’m not in the kitchen, just to let me know it’s time to eat!

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    1. Thank you! I’m new to this blogging journey and your post a few months back titled “What’s Cooking on Your Blog?” was incredibly helpful as I learned how to best piece my posts together. I had never considered including Youtube videos of the songs I was referencing until I read your post.

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