And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
Luke 18:1-8
Good Morning Beautiful,
If you don’t already know this simple truth, let me share it with you this morning. “PRAYER CHANGES THINGS” yes, I say, ” PRAYER CHANGES THINGS.” This morning I want to encourage you not to give up. Don’t quit just yet. I know that you are tired, and I know that you may be stressed, but whatever you do, do not stop PRAYING! Sometimes it seems like the circumstances around you tell you to quit, that it will never happen for you. I am here to tell you that leaving is the hardest part of the battle. The real victory is when you choose to stay and stick it out. God’s Word says, “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV). Praying gives us endurance, and it gives us strength when we are weak. Without prayer, we will not have the power to carry on, and God wants us to carry on.
Prayer can change things; it can open the heart of the hard-hearted; it can free you from worry, depression, anxiety, and stress. It can free you from making the same mistakes repeatedly. God is in control, and He cares for you. His Word says, “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive” (Matthew 21:22 KJV). There is nothing too hard for God to do. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end (see Revelations 22:13 KJV).
When we stop and throw in the towel, we are letting the enemy win, and we are telling God that He isn’t all-powerful. We are choosing to live a mediocre life, not wanting to step away from the shore. We want to play it safe. We are no better than the Israelites who wandered in the wilderness right at the brink of their promise. Where is your faith this morning? God wants to carry you into the promised land, and He wants to bless you more abundantly.
God wants you to pray, and He wants you to believe, ” I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting holy hands, without wrath and doubting” ( 1 Timothy 2:8 KJV). Don’t let your doubts be the thing that keeps you on the outside of your promise. As I said earlier, God can do all things because He is all things. There is nothing too hard for Him, but He is waiting for you to trust and have faith. So keep praying and being consistent in it. Show up, not only when it benefits you, but when it helps others and glorifies God.
Digging deeper discussion questions
- Read Luke 18:1-8. How is the parable similar to your story today. What can you learn about the power of prayer?
