Monday's Blessing
Luke 18:1-8
"Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up."
There is always someone just a stone's throw away in our family or friend group that prompts our prayers each day. It could be that wayward brother who never seems to stay on the righteous path long, or a friend who is always making poor choices in life. There individuals make the top of our prayer list in hopes that life's outlook for them will change through the prompting of our Lord.
Jesus encourages us to be persistent with prayer. In Luke 18 he told the parable of the persistent widow. This woman never gave up! She was engaged in a legal case that she just knew should be her favor! Day after day she'd knock on the judge's door proclaiming, "Grant me justice against my adversary."(Luke 18:3). During Christ's time widows were especially vulnerable when stating their just dues. Without family or income, they could be easily taken advantage of. But not this soul, she was going to be the squeaky wheel in the judge's courtroom.
The obstacle in her path was the judge himself. He didn't acknowledge God or other's just needs. He tried for quite some time to ignore this woman. But, she was persistent, constantly badgering him until he was forced to hear her pleas. She kept making her argument over and over again until finally he moaned, "I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!"(Luke 18:5)
Her persistent prayers paid off. God offers each of us the same blessings. My friend had a son who was an alcoholic. Each morning for ten years she prayed consistently for a wake up call. She knew if things continued as they were, an uncertain death would result. After ten years of persistence, God answered her prayers. Once morning she awoke with such a nagging feeling to see her son. She had just been to his house two weeks previous and tried to shake off this uneasy feeling. Many errands needed to be performed that day, but that nagging feeling wouldn't leave. God kept persistently prodding, "Go see your son now, something is wrong."
Leaving all tasks at hand, she quickly drove to her son's apartment. He was in such rapidly deteriorating state that he needed hospital care immediately. His stay in the hospital reached four weeks with death knocking continually at his door. But, due to such tribulations on account of an alcohol wake-up call, God had answered her prayers. Not a drop of alcohol was craved since!
Be persistent in prayer week after week and wait for God's blessing to unfold.
Dear Lord,
I am grateful you always hear my prayers.
You never mind the same words over and over.
I know that my requests may not fit into your
scheme of things for another.
But I trust you know the perfect time for the
right decision to answer me.
Luke 18:1-8
"Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up."
There is always someone just a stone's throw away in our family or friend group that prompts our prayers each day. It could be that wayward brother who never seems to stay on the righteous path long, or a friend who is always making poor choices in life. There individuals make the top of our prayer list in hopes that life's outlook for them will change through the prompting of our Lord.
Jesus encourages us to be persistent with prayer. In Luke 18 he told the parable of the persistent widow. This woman never gave up! She was engaged in a legal case that she just knew should be her favor! Day after day she'd knock on the judge's door proclaiming, "Grant me justice against my adversary."(Luke 18:3). During Christ's time widows were especially vulnerable when stating their just dues. Without family or income, they could be easily taken advantage of. But not this soul, she was going to be the squeaky wheel in the judge's courtroom.
The obstacle in her path was the judge himself. He didn't acknowledge God or other's just needs. He tried for quite some time to ignore this woman. But, she was persistent, constantly badgering him until he was forced to hear her pleas. She kept making her argument over and over again until finally he moaned, "I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!"(Luke 18:5)
Her persistent prayers paid off. God offers each of us the same blessings. My friend had a son who was an alcoholic. Each morning for ten years she prayed consistently for a wake up call. She knew if things continued as they were, an uncertain death would result. After ten years of persistence, God answered her prayers. Once morning she awoke with such a nagging feeling to see her son. She had just been to his house two weeks previous and tried to shake off this uneasy feeling. Many errands needed to be performed that day, but that nagging feeling wouldn't leave. God kept persistently prodding, "Go see your son now, something is wrong."
Leaving all tasks at hand, she quickly drove to her son's apartment. He was in such rapidly deteriorating state that he needed hospital care immediately. His stay in the hospital reached four weeks with death knocking continually at his door. But, due to such tribulations on account of an alcohol wake-up call, God had answered her prayers. Not a drop of alcohol was craved since!
Be persistent in prayer week after week and wait for God's blessing to unfold.
Dear Lord,
I am grateful you always hear my prayers.
You never mind the same words over and over.
I know that my requests may not fit into your
scheme of things for another.
But I trust you know the perfect time for the
right decision to answer me.
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