PRAY ALWAYS AND DON'T GIVE UP

In Luke 18:1, Jesus taught His disciples to “always pray and not give up,” through the parable of the persistent widow. In this parable a widow kept coming to the judge with a plea for justice. At first he refused, but finally he said, “I will see that she gets justice so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!” (Luke 18:2-5)

Jesus had already taught His disciples about being persistent in prayer in Luke 11, with the parable of the friend at midnight. But in the order and sequence of His teaching on prayer, here in Luke 18 He added another dimension to that teaching. It is one thing to go to a neighbor in the middle of the night to ask for bread for a hungry friend, but it requires quite another level of boldness to go time and again before a judge who has repeatedly turned us down.

Where do we find such boldness? In knowing that we have been told to come boldly—confidently, fearlessly—to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16). In knowing that we come in the righteousness of Christ (Romans 4:22-24). In boldly praying Scripture, knowing as we do we are praying God’s will, and He promises to answer (1 John 5:14).

 

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