Thoughts for another day

January 19, 2007

Today's verse: Lk. 18:7. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Yesterday, we looked at the type of prayer needed to move God’s mighty Hand in seeing our desires fulfilled. It is right to know that God delights in fulfilling the desires of His loved ones. Today, we look at another important aspect of prayer, pertinent only if you follow what the Word of God told yesterday. Of course I am assuming that your prayer is laced and overflowing with praise to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Ch. 18 of Luke’s Gospel begins with the story of the widow who pestered the judge to the extent that the judge was scared of the woman and finally to get rid of her, decided to grant her a just decision. Jesus finally ends the story saying that if the unjust judge could grant a favorable decision to the woman, wouldn’t God who loves us get us our rights? The episode doesn’t end there. Jesus ends with the saying, ‘But when the son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth’!!!

The message before us is clear. One, we need to be persistent in prayer. Really persistent, hammering constantly the heart of God. And two, we must exercise our prayer in unceasing faith. Remember, the Word of God says, without faith it is impossible to please Him, for anyone who approaches God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.

Sometimes you may feel that God is not going to answer a particular prayer of yours. Let me tell you that before God any petition you make is a petition that needs an answer. We by our frivolousness make that prayer meaningless. It is your persistence that will lead to an answer from God and you have it straight from Jesus Himself. The aspect of ‘lack of faith’ arises with many people, who having not seen the result of their prayer even forsake their faith. The Word of God clearly tells us again that ‘Faith is the evidence of what is hoped for…’ not what is in hand, for if faith were to depend on what is seen then it would not have been faith!

So my brothers and sisters, hold on to persistent prayer and no matter what you see around you, stick to the faith you have, however little it may be. That you believe in God itself is a little faith, so just hold on. You answer will arrive shortly.