Meaningful Moment

“Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.”

Luke 18:1 NIV

Persistent prayer is powerful.

In today’s verse, Jesus gave the disciples two qualities of this kind of prayer:

1.   Persistent prayer happens continually

2.   Persistent prayer never gives up

In the following verses, Luke 18:2–8, Jesus shared a parable to illustrate these qualities.

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

Once there was a widow who was wronged by someone. So she went to a judge for justice.

However, this judge was a callous man. He neither feared God nor cared about what people thought of him.

This meant that social pressures wouldn’t move him to rule in the widow’s favor. And neither would any moral compass.

Every day, the widow brought her case to him. Every day, he refused to help.

But finally, he relented. She wore him down with her persistence!

Jesus finished the parable by applying its meaning to everyday life.

If even an unjust judge will grant this woman justice because of her persistence, how much more will our Good Father?

Then he said, “I tell you, [God] will see that they get justice, and quickly” (Luke 18:8a).

Two Qualities of Persistent Prayer

A closer look shows us two keys to powerfully persistent prayer.

First, our continual prayers should be specific.

The widow pled her case every day. She had a target she was unwilling to stop aiming for!

Second, pray specifically and continually.

It’s simple: don’t stop praying.

Bring the same request to God until he grants it, or answers you.

Consider these questions today:

1.   What specific needs do you have?

2.   Have you asked God to meet them?

3.   Are you willing to be persistent?

My wife is amazing at this.

She uses a prayer journal every day—and I’m going to start this practice, too!

She writes her specific requests and keeps praying until they’re answered.

Then, as each request is answered, she’s able to record that in a faith-building section. It’s amazing to see God’s hand working in your life. Especially in seasons of difficulty or doubt.

Let’s pray like the persistent widow, specifically, continually, and expectantly, that God will answer!