Relentless Prayer

Do we persist with God? Do we give up praying too soon? Let’s learn that God encourages persistent, demanding prayers. Let’s discuss prayers for ourselves, aggressive prayer and God’s justice in Luke 18:1-8.

Persistent & Demanding Prayer

Luke 18:1-5 One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. 2 “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. 3 A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ 4 The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, 5 but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’”

Little children learn quickly to be relentless and not give up until their demands are met. Is it wrong to be so persistent with God? Many unjust judges ignore the persistent pleas of the needy. God will hear and answer our cries for daily help even when others will not.

Old and New Testaments demand that widows and other needy be cared for, but people disobey and widows are often left destitute. This widow demands justice from a reluctant judge. God encourages us to make requests, unabashed. The widow was persistent and demanding in prayer. Are our prayers like that?

Should our faith be docile? Should Christians passively accept injustice? Are aggressive cries for equity and fairness only for those without faith? Should we just wait patiently on God and keep silent? Jesus commended a persistent widow for aggressively demanding justice from an uncaring judge. Let’s persistently and aggressively pray?

We are the Unjust Judge

Luke 18:6-8 Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. 7 Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”

We all want mercy, and must learn to give it. Even the false preacher Jezebel who encouraged sexual immorality was given time to repent (Revelation 2:20-22). Rushed justice hurts too many people. True justice takes time because of mercy and space for repentance. A key is not to quit.

We are the unjust judges. An unjust world and its poison resides deep within our own souls. Every criticism of injustice that we level against others in the world points a finger right at our own hearts. Pray always and we will be delivered even from our own unjust hearts.

God is a just judge. Sometimes, He seems slow to answer our prayers as we count time, because we don’t know all surrounding circumstances. Let’s learn faith and persistence. Let’s learn that He will save us at a time of His choosing, and quickly.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Luke 18:1-8 in Rhyme

1 One day Jesus told his disciples a story

To always pray, not to pray transitory

2 He said, “There was a judge in a certain city,

Who neither feared God nor showed people much pity.”

3 “A widow came to him repeatedly, saying,

‘For justice in this strife with my foe, I’m waiting!’

4 The judge scorned her, but finally said to himself,

‘I don’t fear God and care for no one but myself’

5 ‘But this woman is constantly pestering me

6 I’ll give her justice, for she asks annoyingly!

Otherwise, she’ll keep coming and then wear me out.’

Then the Lord said, “What’s the unjust judge all about?”

7 “Even he rendered a just decision, at last.

Will God lag saving his elect who all day ask?

8 I tell you, He will grant justice to them quickly!

When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith really?”