Let us turn to Luke 18, where Jesus talks about prayer. In verse 1 we read, “Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart”. This passage encourages us to pray diligently and persistently. We read the parable of the wicked judge in verses 2-8. The widow in this parable teaches us how to be persistent and never lose heart while we go to the Lord in prayer. This needs to be a part of our daily life. The problems and circumstances in our life may hinder us from praying diligently, but we need to be careful not to lose heart. In Luke 22:39-46, we read of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. In v41-43, we see how even Jesus had his times that he needed the fathers help. When times were difficult for our Lord, he turned to the father for help through prayer. This is the example we need to follow. Jesus taught us how to pray. We read of this in Luke 11 and we see that immediately after that he tells us the parable of the persistent friend (v5-8), teaching us the importance of persistence in prayer. We need to pray in faith. In verse 9 we read that we won’t receive unless we ask, we won’t find unless we seek. We need to be like a beggar everyday seeking the Lord in prayer.
In Genesis chapter 32, we read of Jacob in the instance where Jacob prays because he was afraid to face Esau. All through Jacob’s life, he was a cunning man, tricking people to get what he wanted. Jacob’s fear to face Esau led him to pray persistently before the Lord. In v24 onwards we see how the Lord broke what he depended on in his life. Jacob was all alone and he has broken. The lovely thing we need to notice here is how Jacob persisted till he received the blessing. He paid a cost to persistently wait for the Lord. When we ask the Lord for help to overcome a situation persistently, without losing hope, our Lord will definitely help us. In Genesis 33, we read of the meeting of Jacob and Esau. In v10, we see how Jacob sees the face of God in Esau. How beautiful! Can we also find the face of God in our difficulties?
In Jeremiah 29:11-13, God assures us that He has a plan for us and it is for our welfare. In Romans 12:12, we are reminded to “rejoice in hope, persevere in tribulation and be devoted to prayer”. In Ephesians 6:10 onwards we read of the armor of God. An important part of this armor is the shield of faith. Our faith can be seen through the prayers that we pray. We can build our faith through prayer. We need this armor to stand against the schemes of the devil. In Philippians 4:6 we are reminded to give our prayers as specific requests and with thanksgiving. We are also reminded not to be anxious, because anxiety leads us away from the Lord. In 1 Thessalonians 5:17 also we are reminded to pray without ceasing. In Hebrews 12:2,3 we read “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” This is something we can do. We can fix our eyes on Jesus only if we decide that whatever comes my way, I will follow the way of Jesus. Jesus looked to the Father for help; let us also follow this example
In Luke 18:13,14, we read of the prayer of the Pharisee and the tax collector. This parable teaches us how important our attitude is while we pray. Let us look at a verse Daniel 9:18, “O my God, incline Your ear and hear! Open Your eyes and see our desolation and the city which is called by Your name; for we are not presenting our supplications before You on account of any merits of our own, but on account of Your great compassion.” It is not on the basis of our merit that God answers our prayers, but because if His great compassion. Let us always remember this when we go to God in prayer. We can pray persistently not because we are righteous and we don’t need to run away from prayer because we feel we have fallen many times. We go to God in prayer not by our merit. Let this encourage us to pray diligently, without losing heart!
Have we ever felt prayer is monotonous? Have we felt that we lose hope when we pray? It is when we take prayer as a routine that we feel so. We saw in Jacob’s life that when he had a need, his prayer was persistent. In David’s life, we see that when he left praying to God and gazed through his window, he fell into the sin of adultery. David knew well that when he left that constant relationship with the Lord, he would fall in sin. That is why we see in Psalms 141:1, David says “Hasten to me”. When we pray, we also need to remember to whom we are praying. We pray to the creator of the universe who is also the King of the universe! What great confidence that should give us. In Revelation we see the importance that is given to the prayer of saints – it is burned as incense before the Lord. How valuable are our prayers before the Lord. Our prayers will never go in vain – the Lord hears and records all of them!
May the Lord encourage us with these words to keep diligent and be persistent in our prayers. Let us not lose heart. God bless us all!
