Another Note-Keep Praying!
Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart. Luke 18:1
In Luke 18, Jesus tells the parable about prayer. In this parable, there are two characters, the persistent widow and the unjust judge. The unjust judge was something! He did not care what people thought, and he did not fear God. The widow approached the judge asking for justice. At first, the judge ignored this woman’s request because he has no regard for God or humanity. But this widow did not give up! She continued to come before the judge asking him to give her the justice that she deserved.
The judge could not take it anymore! He said “I don’t care about what God thinks of me, much less what any mere human thinks. But this widow is driving me crazy. She’s never going to quit coming to see me unless I hear her case (vss. 4,5 VOICE).” The judge gave the widow what she wanted, not because he cared about the woman, about justice, or about God, but because she was consistent in asking.
Jesus highlights the judge’s words in the parable: “Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.” Luke 18:6-7
Jesus used the parable to emphasize the need for believers to truly and fully rely on God and the importance of persistence in the midst of adversity. If a mean, uncaring judge can be moved by the widow, how much more do we move the heart of God when we cry out to Him.
Unlike the unjust judge in the parable, God is a just judge who lovingly hears and answers the calls of His children. He doesn’t have to be forced to meet our needs. He loves when His children cry out Him. He loves to respond to our calls. He loves to give us more than we ask or think.
As children of God, we are never without hope. We should pray fervently and persistently even in the face of adversity, because it is the Father in heaven who will answer, not unjust human judges.
Jesus gave this example of the widow to remind us how to remain in faith and in fervent prayer, especially in times of adversity. “The parable of the persistent widow is an example of the prayer warrior who will not take no for an answer in bringing her need to God”
We need that type of tenacity and persistence that will help us stand in faith. Keep praying and don’t lose heart. When things don’t seem to be changing, don’t lose heart. When things seem to get worse, don’t lose heart. Even when you feel tired, don’t lose heart!
May we stand, like the widow, in faith and never give up, knowing that when we pray, our Father in heaven hears and desires to meet our needs.
Remember to keep praying!
Your friend in the journey,
Erica
Remember, The Word W.O.R.K.S. Walking in Wholeness, Obedience, Righteousness, and Kingdom Success through the Word of God!
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