-November 19, 2022-
Good morning, happy Saturday,
“Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart.”
(Luke 18:1).
Prayer is one of the biggest and most important subjects in the Bible, yet it is something that most believers don’t do enough of. It will be one of our greatest regrets that we didn’t pray enough with the passion, power, and persistence that we should. E.M. Bounds wrote a book on prayer, entitled, “E.M. Bounds On Prayer,” but more than that he prayed every day from 4 am to 7 am. He was a pastor and a real prayer warrior. It is said that no man made more more melting appeals for lost souls and backslidden Christians than him. He wrote, “Prayer is not an afterthought. It is not be to used only in “case of emergency.” It is to be the priority of our lives.”
In today’s verse, Jesus says, “Men always ought to pray and not lose heart. We often give up praying about something before God answers us. Prayer is hard work, and we must persist in prayer. Our Savior spoke a parable of a widow in need of legal protection. She asked the judge, “Get justice for me from my adversary.” The judge is called “unjust judge,” because he didn’t fear God nor regard man.” He finally succumbed to her pleas because she continually came to him. God, on the other hand wants to help us and answer our prayers.
Prayer must be earnest, continual, and impactful. Paul in writing to the Thessalonians said, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). We can never pray enough! By praying we do not lose heart. Is prayer your priority? Is it your passion? Is it your source of power? We get into our vehicles and drive them but seldom think of the power of the engine under the hood until there is a problem. We only cry out to God when there is “an emergency.” We try all our own resources first, then pray. Why don’t we pray first and last.
The hymn writer Joseph M. Scriven wrote, “What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.” Let us take the daily prayer challenge and see what God can do.
Have a blessed day praying. Stay safe and healthy.
Praying always to the One who can and does answer us,
Dean
Dean Allen's Daily Devotional 