Luke 18:1-8

Do you have something that you've been praying for so long that you've lost count of how many times you have prayed for it? You're in good company.

Luke 18:1-8

This week's devotions are written by my friend Jessica Hermann, former director of our college ministry at Great Hills Baptist Church.

- Pastor Danny

Do you have something that you've been praying for so long that you've lost count of how many times you have prayed for it? You're in good company.

"And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, 'Give me justice against my adversary.' For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, 'Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.'" And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" (Luke 18:1-8)

When I study the Word of God, I usually go verse by verse, passage by passage, and chapter by chapter. There is so much in context and connection that you lose when you don't study the Word of God this way. This week, I want to invite you into Bible study with me as we look at Luke 18.

Here in this passage, we find Jesus telling a parable to his disciples. We have the benefit of reading from the beginning what the main point of the parable is. Luke tells us the parable is an encouragement "always to pray and not lose heart" (vs. 1). The woman who consistently comes to plead her case before a worldly, unrighteous judge endured, despite being ignored time and time again. Eventually he gave her what she wanted, essentially so she would leave him alone.

But our Judge, the Lord Himself, is not like the unrighteous judge; He is the Righteous One and cares deeply for us. How much more will our God answer our prayers and delight in bringing justice to our situation?

But if you're like me, you might wonder, why do we have to be persistent in prayer? Why don't we just pray for something once, trust God to take care of it, and never need to pray for it again? Or perhaps you are one to get discouraged when you don't see God moving in the areas you are praying about and are prone to give up and lose heart.

Persistent prayer aligns our heart to God's heart as we convene with Him in prayer. It reminds us that God hears our prayers and is attentive to each and every one. Persistent prayer also keeps our hearts soft to the things that are on our minds to pray for and open to the Lord redirecting us as we pray.

Be encouraged, my friend. Persistent prayer is a testament to the faithfulness of God. Praying with persistence, not giving up and giving in, comes from a heart that believes God can still do what you are asking, even if you have not yet seen God move specifically in this area yet. Persistent prayer recognizes that God always hears our prayers, and through persistent prayer, our hearts are reminded to continuously trust the matters on our hearts to the Lord.

I recently heard a quote on this matter. Though I know nothing of William McGill, the man who said it, his words here are helpful: "The value of persistent prayer is not that God will hear us, but that we will finally hear God."

What have you been praying for? Don't give up. Keep praying and know that God has heard every single one of those prayers. He is working, whether you see it or not, and He is using this season where you are being persistent in prayer to shape you and form you to trust Him more and more.