The Persistent Friend: Neville Goddard’s Parable Interpretation
The Biblical Parable
A source-grounded study of Neville Goddard’s psychological interpretation of The Persistent Friend, consolidated from 2 original lectures and books.
And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.
Neville’s Interpretation
This parable, like the persistent widow, underscores the power of 'importunity' or brazen impudence in prayer. The persistent friend represents the unwavering, insistent assumption of the wish fulfilled, which ultimately compels the desired outcome despite initial resistance or apparent impossibility.
— The Secret Of Prayer
This parable is not about asking an external friend, but about the internal process of prayer and manifestation. The 'friend' represents one's own consciousness or Imagination. The 'importunity' (brazen impudence) signifies persistent, unwavering assumption of the wish fulfilled, refusing to accept any denial from the outer world. It teaches that God is found within through persistent assumption.
— How To Manifest Your Desires
Characters as States
Persistent Friend: The individual who persistently assumes the wish fulfilled, demonstrating 'brazen impudence' in their conviction.
Reluctant Friend: The external circumstances or the subconscious mind that initially resists but eventually yields to the persistent inner state.
friend at midnight: One's own consciousness or Imagination, initially seemingly resistant or 'asleep' to the desired state.
man asking for loaves: The conscious mind, persistently impressing the subconscious with the desired state.
loaves: The desired state or its fulfillment.
Practical Meaning
- To achieve a desired state, one must persist in their imaginative act with 'brazen impudence,' refusing to accept any external 'no' and continuously affirming the reality of the wish fulfilled until it manifests.
- To manifest, one must persistently assume the wish fulfilled, not taking 'no' for an answer from external circumstances. This continuous, 'brazen impudent' assumption will eventually cause the inner reality to externalize.
Complete Sources
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