Luke 18:1-14

Giving up can be easy. It's all too easy to just give up and give in. It's quite hard to find the motivation to stick at something.

It can be like that with our prayer lives. It can be hard to stick at it especially if we don't hear an answer straight away.

Faithful in Prayer

In the parables in this passage, Jesus makes it clear that these two people who prayer consistently and honestly will have their prayers answered.

God does not expect us to struggle in prayer, like climbing a mountain. He is waiting for us to come to Him and say we can't. So that He can strengthen us and carry us up that mountain. Jesus is talking about having faith that God will answer. He wants our heart.

Jesus wants your heart

Like a child who comes to their parents as the only ones who can carry them on a long walk, Jesus is looking for those who come to God as people who know only God can answer. They desire for no-one else but Him.

The woman in the parable has no-one else but this judge. Despite that fact that he was unjust, she put herself before him time and time again. The cry for justice is real and persistent amongst anyone in this world who has experienced evil. Jesus assures that God will bring justice in this world, and He will bring it quickly.

Desperate Pleading

When you are desperate, you act like the woman in the parable. When you truly feel the need, you plead repeatedly. Those who come to Jesus find someone who will listen time after time to your cries of pain. God is a judge who will never put us off like the judge in the parable. He will pursue justice. Because our need is constant, our prayers need to be also.

That doesn't always mean God will answer immediately. For some of us, we will not have justice until the New Kingdom. When Jesus sasy it will happen now, He is tallking about the beginning of that coming with Jesus on earth. But it is not complete not yet. There will still be suffering until Jesus returns. That day will come quickly. The question is: Will He find faith in you? Will you be ready?

Pray like Jesus

In the gospels Jesus prays a lot. We can follow His example and be talking to the Father like Jesus did. The Lord's Prayer is a great place to start. Reflect on each statement in prayer. The mountain of prayer does not seem so hard when following our guide, Jesus.