Prayer

The Parable of the Persistent Widow (Luke 18)

1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.'

4 "For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually come and attack me!' "

6 And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"

I underestimate the power of prayer. It seems like such a simple thing to have a conversation with God. Perhaps because it's so simple, I don't pray as often as I should.

Yet Jesus told his disciples that they "should always pray and not give up". Sometimes our requests seem insignificant. Sometimes I just want to solve the problem on my own.

This widow kept begging the judge to hear her case and grant her justice. Jesus uses this parable to remind us that God cares about our problems. He is not like the unjust judge, because He does care. And God will bring about justice. He will help us with our problems, our concerns, the daily struggles in life. "And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly."

So we know that God will answer our prayers. He is a loving Father who delights in listening to His children. Jesus says in Matthew 21:22, "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

Yet Jesus also says, "However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" In applying this to my life, I could ask, "Does He find me praying? ...or trusting in my own strength?"

Because as willing as our Father is to listen to our prayers, we first have to pray them. Matthew 7:7: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Not to say that God will grant all of the requests that we ask of Him. He knows what is good for us as His ways are higher than our ways.

But I need to remember the widow and her earnest request for help. She persisted in asking and didn't give up. Jesus wants us to always pray and not give up. And He will see that we get justice, and quickly.