April 15
Power in
Persistent Prayer
Luke 18:1
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.
Daily Steps
When difficulties last a long time, it's easy to lose hope and stop praying. Jesus told the parable of the persistent widow specifically to teach the new believer the crucial link between prayer, peace, and endurance: always pray and not give up.
The peace in persistent prayer is found in two certainties:
The Command to Always Pray: You are not commanded to feel motivated, only to act. To "always pray" means making prayer a constant posture of dependence, regardless of how you feel or how long the trial lasts. This removes the anxiety of having to generate emotional strength.
The Command to Not Give Up: The greatest danger in difficulty is spiritual discouragement. The instruction to "not give up" is an active choice of perseverance. While the unjust judge in the parable eventually gave in because of annoyance, our Heavenly Father responds out of perfect love and justice. If persistence works on an unjust judge, how much more effective is it with a loving, righteous God?
Your peace in difficulty is secured by trusting that every single prayer you offer is heard, and your persistence in prayer is a powerful act of faith that God honors.
Reflective Question
Is there a difficult situation you have grown weary of praying for? How can you renew your commitment to always pray and not give up, trusting that your persistence is a necessary part of your peace and breakthrough?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, I confess that I often grow weary and give up praying when difficulties drag on. Strengthen my resolve today. Help me to grasp the truth of Your parable: I must always pray and not give up. I choose persistence as my act of faith, resting in the peace of knowing You hear and honor every petition I bring to You. Amen.
