HOST: Ron House
SPONSOR: Start2Finish
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?”
Have you ever wondered if praying for the same thing over and over is displeasing to God? Does it show a lack of faith in God that we can’t, or don’t, take our concern or need to Him one time and consider it taken care of, never to be mentioned again? In this parable recorded only by Luke, Jesus gives the answer to those questions, and that answer is far different than the way we often feel. What we often view as a lack of faith or trust, God views as dependence and submission. Just as the widow in the parable goes repeatedly to the judge for help because she realizes that he is her only hope, we take our cares and needs to God in recognition of the fact that it is only in Him that we find our hope. God desires for us to pray to Him and not to cease in seeking His help and care. Of course, as we pray, we must do so in faith, trusting God to care for us in the way that is best for us according to His will. But given that stipulation, God is not bothered or displeased by our continual seeking of His consolation and blessings. His love for us is deep and abiding, and His desire is that we continually seek Him and a closer walk with Him.
Why is it important to God that we pray to Him?
Don’t forget to pray and have a great day!
