“Constant in Prayer”

 


God has given us the blessing of memory.  Just like all blessings, memory can also be a curse to us if we determine to live in the past.  So be sure we have had victories and failures in our walk with God.  Our failures in the past can become obstacles to our faithfulness in the present if we concentrate on them rather than asking for forgiveness and moving on.

This is why we are told to be constant in prayer in Luke 18.1.  The only weapon this poor widow had was prayer; if she didn't continue to ask the judge to give her justice, it might never have come.  Widows were especially vulnerable of being cheated because they had no one to speak their case or defend them.  This widow did what she could.  She continued to petition the judge.  Finally, she was given the judgment she looked for.

The teaching here is straightforward:  If such a judge will in the end listen to the prayer of a woman who he cared nothing for, will God not surely listen to the repeated prayer of one whom he loves with a deep, enduring love?  Every Christian has this love of God.  We need to continue in prayer and not lose heart (faith) in the One who will give us the blessings that are best for us.

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