Ask a Pastor Column

Q: Some Bible passages tell us to ‘pester’ God with our prayers, others say that we should avoid vain repetition and just have faith; what gives? How often should we ask God for what we want?

A: First let me say that it’s normal to see a tension between different Bible passages that address a given topic. If I tell one person to drive west to get to Mankato, Kansas, then tell another to drive east to get to the same place, it can seem like a contradiction. Until I tell you that the first person lives in Belleville and the second lives in Smith Center! Just like learning that Mankato is west of...