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This parable (Luke 18:1-8) was given to teach that one should keep on asking in prayer, though it take a long time. Jesus said that keeping on with the asking has something to do with having faith and not fainting along the way.

I've heard various questions about repeated asking.

• "If I've asked once, God doesn't forget so wouldn't it be insulting to ask again?
• "Doesn't God know already what I need? So why ask at all?"
• "If I keep on asking for the same thing, doesn't that show lack of faith that God heard and will answer?"
• "Then when God provides what I asked, if I keep asking for yet more and other things, does that not seem greedy and ungrateful?"

In the past I have answered that the instruction to continue asking isn't for God's benefit, it's for mine, the asker, so that I will re-evaluate enough times to get to the bottom line of what I really want in the matter.

Now I think I have a deeper answer. I believe God wants me to focus and fixate on God as the source of my supply. If I just ask once and forget the request, then when the supply comes I might think it came from my paycheck, or my own smart work. So I must come to God over and over. When one need is supplied, I go for another, or two or three more.

The whole point of my life here is to learn that God is my Source of supply. Hence the first commandment, no other god but our God.

Now let me take this one step deeper. I believe God wants me to focus and fixate on God as the source of my supply, not just during my morning prayers and then God and I split up to go off about our separate plans and duties. No! God wants me to call on God throughout the day as my Source of everything.

This is not greedy; this is keeping no other god but our God.