Today’s exhortation – persevering in prayer
In the following parable, The Lord Jesus Christ illustrated the necessity of persevering when prayer is not answered immediately. The bible says, “Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ”
Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily…” (Luke 18:1-8). Knowing this, we’re not to lose heart when prayers are not answered immediately. We’re not to give in to discouragement, fear, doubt, unbelief or use excuses for unbelief. We must resist and rebuke all suggestions of failure. We must ask ourselves, is it God’s will to heal or that we prosper? If the answer is ‘yes’ which it is, then we must not give up asking. It is written, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” (III John 1:2). Amen
Francis Hans-Jorie