TEXT:

‘Now Jesus was telling the disciples a parable to make the point that at all times they ought to pray and not give up and lose heart’ – Luke 18:1 AMP

THOUGHT:

‘When the Son of Man comes will He really find faith on the earth?’ – Lk 18:8. Jesus is looking for faith. The Centurion had it and Jesus commended him, ‘Assuredly I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel’ – Matthew 8:10.

We often start off with high hopes, especially when we discover a verse in the Bible that appears to be the answer to what we are looking for. Then, when prayer is not answered immediately, doubts and discouragement creep in and before long we have given up any expectation of divine intervention.

Jesus taught this parable about the widow’s fight for justice to inspire us to keep praying and not to lose heart. What can we learn from the widow’s actions? Read Luke 18:1-8.

• She was in a bad situation with no one else around to help her

She could not afford a lawyer or legal representative. She was destitute, devastated by death and perhaps deserted by family. Her late husband’s relatives may well have claimed the marital home and had her evicted. Unless she had children who help could her, she would be penniless, reduced to begging. She needed the law to support her just claim.

• She had a right to come before the judge

If she did not, the judge would have thrown out her case the very first time she appeared before him. No one could stop her coming, no one had the right. She wanted and needed the judge to rule in her favour. He was a bad judge, uncaring, so he chose to ignore her claim. “It will be done next time” he replied, as he tried to fob her off. Many times she went away disappointed, knowing that justice had let her down once again. The judge’s friends and acquaintances probably thought it was funny he was ignoring her. After all why should he bother about someone who was a nobody?

• She refused to stop coming to demand justice

The next time the judge was in her city, she was the first in line at the courthouse. She may have been in the queue all night, like someone queuing for the start of the New Year Sales. Once again she would stand before the judge and demand that he rule in her favour. Once again he would not dismiss but defer her just claim.

• Her continual persistence finally paid off

The judge changed his mind. He should have been a judge who feared God. That was the first requirement under the law – Exodus 18:21. He should not have been a respecter of persons. That was the second requirement – Deuteronomy 1:16-17. The thing that moved him to rule in her favour was the fact that her persistence might weary him. He would have had to have done it sooner or later. Perhaps he delayed, hoping to have been given a bribe. Felix kept Paul in prison hoping for a large payment to be given him in order for him to sign the release papers – Acts 24:26. Finally her persistence paid off and justice was seen to be done. She got the judgment in her favour.

• The difference between this unjust judge and God

God does not delay answering prayers because He is uncaring or inconsiderate. When there is no immediate answer or response, there are reasons why. Delay does not mean denial. God is committed to working all things together for good – Romans 8:28.

• What we can learn from this parable to help us persevere in our praying

Have a cast-iron reason for praying

Find out what is written in the Bible that concerns you. Make sure it applies to you. There must be no doubt over what you are asking for; otherwise you will soon stop presenting your case to the Lord. ‘But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to tell you, for a doubtful mind will be as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind; and every decision you then make will be uncertain, as you turn first this way and then that. If you don’t ask with faith, don’t expect the Lord to give you any solid answer’ – James 1:6-8 TLB.

Present your prayer to the Lord on the basis of what He has said

“Lord you said in Isaiah 53:5, ‘And by His stripes we are healed’, so on the basis of that promise I am asking you for my healing.” For other needs find out what Bible verses you can use to base your prayer on. There are rights and privileges for the Christian to claim, but they must only be on the basis of God’s Word.

Realise there will be spiritual challenges to stop you getting what God’s Word says you can have

The dialogue between God and Satan concerning Job confirms this – 1:7-12, 2:1-6. Jesus said that Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy – John 10:10. What a contrast to Jesus who has come that we might have life! Satan will mount a challenge to rob you. He wants delay to stop you from continuing in pursuit of the answer you want from God.

Be persistent until you receive the answer you have asked for

Jesus taught His disciples this. He wants men to pray, keep praying and not lose heart. When our natural senses affect our prayers it is easy to lose heart, but when faith rises in our heart, we can understand the delay is not because God is against it, but He is working out some other purpose for our good. We can keep going until we receive what we are asking God for.

• What to do if you have lost heart?

Keep studying the scriptures that give you hope for the answer

That way God can cause faith to rise up – Romans 10:17.

Keep reminding yourself that God has not changed His attitude towards you

‘God is not a man, that he should lie. He doesn’t change his mind like humans do. Has he ever promised, without doing what he said?’ – Numbers 23:19 TLB.

Do not stay away from other Christians and attending church

Delay can be a dangerous time when Satan whispers his lies about God. The discouraged Psalmist began to see things clearly only after he had started going back to God’s house again. ‘If I’d have given in and talked like this, I would have betrayed your dear children. Still, when I tried to figure it out, all I got was a splitting headache. Until I entered the sanctuary of God, then I saw the whole picture’ – Psalm 73:15-17 MSG.

Make up your mind that however long it takes for the answer to come, you will be a praiser not a complainer

‘Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done’ – Philippians 4:6 NLT

‘In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you’ – 1 Thessalonians 5:18

‘Through Him, therefore, let us at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name’ – Hebrews 13:15 AMP.