Luke 18:1 - Always Pray and Never Give Up.
Luke 18:1 (NIV) Then Jesus told his
disciples a parable to show them that they should
always pray and not give up.
Luke 18:1 (NLT) One day Jesus told his
disciples a story to show that they should always pray
and never give up.
CONTEXT
Luke 18:1-8: The Parable of the Persistent
Widow. [NIVSB]
INTRODUCTION
Some of the parables of Jesus Christ are
difficult to fully understand or perfectly apply.
However the parable of the unjust judge is
interpreted and applied for us, by the Holy Spirit
himself. The point of the parable, Luke tells us in
his divinely inspired narrative, is to teach us
to never quit praying. [Charles Stanley at
www.intouch.org]
Persistent prayer means keeping our requests
continually before God as we live for him day by day,
believing he will answer. It does not mean rote
repetition or painfully long prayer sessions. [One Year
NLT SB]
COMMENTARY PEARL
Prayer is a mystery to me. I have friends
who seem to have dramatic answers to their
prayers all the time, but seldom do I see an obvious
answer to my prayers.
So why do I pray? I pray because "1 can't
not pray." I pray for the same reason I breathe,
sigh, groan, walk, talk, sing, laugh. Without the
release that prayer gives me, my anxieties and
frustrations would soon reach dangerous levels.
If I had to make an appointment with a
doctor every time I was troubled, I would have long
ago bankrupted the entire health-care system,
singlehandedly.
But prayer? No appointment necessary. No
paperwork, and no copay. I just open my heart to the
Great Physician, wherever I am: on the riding
mower, working under the car, or speeding down the
freeway.
I know, prayer is no substitute for
professional counseling, but the act of praying is
healing to me. I can "divulge" things to God and
know that He will keep my confidences. I can
"wrestle" with
God before I yield to His will. I can
'brag" to him about my achievements without being
accused of pride.
I'm okay with the mystery of prayer. I
don't have to witness answers to my prayers to
know that they have been processed. I trust God
to do what is best, on His timetable.
To me, prayer is less like putting coins
in a vending machine, and more like a very
powerful cell phone, built into my head, that can
reach heaven on a moment's notice, without
dialing, and with unlimited minutes. I don't know
where I would be without this Heavenly Phone.
Hello, God, it's me, Danny. Thanks for
that incredible sunrise this morning. Catch You
later, bye. Daniel Schantz [Walking in Grace 2021
Devotional by Guideposts and Zondervan]
COMMENTARY
When I look at my prayer list and find
blank spaces in the "Answered on This Date"
column, the following parable becomes a bedtime
story that comforts my soul so my sleep is
undisturbed despite the blanks. It's a "bedtime" story
Jesus told in the daylight.
He said: "In a certain town there was a
judge who neither feared God nor cared what people
thought." Luke 18:2 (NIV). The story describes an
interchange between the judge and a widow who'd been
wronged. She asked for justice. The judge refused.
Providing justice for an uninfluential widow held no
priority for him.
She kept asking. And asking. And asking.
Finally, the judge gave in. She bothered
and embarrassed him. He gave her what she needed
so she'd leave him alone.
At first reading, I wondered what Jesus
could have meant by using that example. Our Judge
is not unjust. He exudes compassion. He not
only respects but cares for our every need.
Begging seems to disrespect both God and our
humanity.
But Jesus tells us specifically at the
beginning of the story that He wants us to find within
it encouragement to pray continuously and not
grow discouraged.
He bookends the story with this poignant
line: When the Son of Man comes, will he find
faith on the earth?" Luke 18:8 (NIV). Jesus is
faithful to us, faithful to answer quickly or to hold
us tightly if the answer is slower in coming.
The real question is, "Will we be faithful to
ask, to keep asking, and to trust Him?" by
Cynthia Ruchti
Faith Step: What request is lingering on
your prayer list? Put a gold star next to that
request - an award for endurance - and keep praying.
[Mornings With Jesus 2018 Devotional by Guideposts and
Zondervan]
Ive always been a storyteller. As a
child, I would make up stories to tell my friends,
sometimes cobbling together a makeshift costume with
dramatic flair. As a mom, Ive told and retold my
kids tales reflecting their interests at the
time: trains, dinosaurs, basketball. I even
immortalized one by typing it up and may someday publish
it. Im sure my storytelling skills are partly
inspired by the many outstanding books Ive read,
but as with everything, I recognize my ability
as a gift from the best Storyteller ever.
Jesus.
Sometimes, before I tell a story, the
outline is delivered to my mind in a flash, start to
finish. Other times, Ill begin with a simple
prompt and am as curious as my kids are about where
the story will lead as I tell it. Its
unfathomable to ponder that the Alpha and Omega knows
every little bit of every story from before time
and sees precisely where its heading. Every
character, every plot twist, every single scene. Hes
the third-person Narrator who sees it all.
Whats more, He is present in every scene, the
hovering Director, ready to offer guidance if I ask.
As I look at my life, I can see a
spiritual narrative, how Jesus took my garbled,
imperfect words and with the loving, blood-red pen of
grace, folds every detail into the rich adventure
my life has been. I dont know what the next
chapter holds, and though I earnestly seek His will
to write my story, only He knows where its
headed. Hes trustworthy. by Isabella Yosuico
Faith Step: Draft an outline of your life
story on a single sheet of paper. What has
happened according to your plan? How has Jesus shaped
your story? [Mornings With Jesus 2020 Devotional
by Guideposts and Zondervan]
CLOSING THOUGHTS
While engaged in our daily work, we should
lift the soul to heaven in prayer. These silent
petitions rise like incense before the throne of
grace; and the enemy is baffled. The Christian
whose heart is thus stayed upon God cannot be
overcome. No evil arts can destroy his peace. All the
promises of God's word, all the power of divine
grace, all the resources of Jehovah, are pledged to
secure his deliverance. It was thus that Enoch
walked with God. And God was with him, a present
help in every time of need Prayer is the
breath of the soul. It is the secret of spiritual
power. No other means of grace can be substituted,
and the health of the soul be preserved. Prayer
brings the heart into immediate contact with the
Well-spring of life, and strengthens the sinew and
muscle of the religious experience. Neglect the
exercise of prayer, or engage in prayer
spasmodically, now and then, as seems convenient, and you
lose your hold on God. The spiritual faculties
lose their vitality, the religious experience
lacks health and vigor. It is only at the altar
of God that we can kindle our tapers with
divine fire. {GW 254 re 2Co. 2:16}
As activity increases, and men become
successful in doing any work for God, there is danger
of trusting to human plans and methods. There
is a tendency to pray less, and to have less
faith. Like the disciples, we are in danger of
losing sight of our dependence on God, and seeking
to make a saviour of our activity. We need to
look constantly to Jesus, realizing that it is
His power which does the work. While we are to
labor earnestly for the salvation of the lost, we
must also take time for meditation, for prayer,
and for the study of the word of God. Only the
work accomplished with much prayer, and
sanctified by the merit of Christ, will in the end
prove to have been efficient for good. DA362,3
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
I am calling you to a life of constant
communion with Me. Basic training includes learning to
live above your circumstances, even while
interacting on that cluttered plane of life. You yearn
for a simplified lifestyle, so that your
communication with Me can be uninterrupted. But I
challenge you to relinquish the fantasy of an
uncluttered world. Accept each day just as it comes, and
find Me in the midst of it all.
Talk with Me about every aspect of your
day, including your feelings. Remember that your
ultimate goal is not to control or fix everything
around you; it is to keep communing with Me. A
successful day is one in which you have stayed in touch
with Me, even if many things remain undone at the
end of the day. Do not let your to-do list
(written or mental) become an idol directing your
life. Instead, ask My Spirit to guide you moment
by moment. He will keep you close to Me. (1Th.
5:17; Pro. 3:6) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
Refuse to worry! In this world there will
always be something enticing you to worry. That is
the nature of a fallen, fractured planet: Things
are not as they should be. So the temptation to
be anxious is constantly with you, trying to
worm its way into your mind. The best defense is
continual communication with Me, richly seasoned with
thanksgiving. Awareness of My Presence fills your mind
with Light and Peace, leaving no room for fear.
This awareness lifts you up above your
circumstances, enabling you to see problems from My
perspective. Live close to Me! Together we can keep the
wolves of worry at bay. (Luke 12:25, 26; 1Th.
5:16-18) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
Trust Me enough to spend ample time with
Me, pushing back the demands of the day. Refuse
to feel guilty about something that is so
pleasing to Me, the King of the universe. Because I
am omnipotent, I am able to bend time and
events in your favor. You will find that you can
accomplish more in less time, after you have given
yourself to Me in rich communion. Also, as you align
yourself with My perspective, you can sort out what
is important and what is not.
Don't fall into the trap of being
constantly on the go. Many, many things people do in My
Name have no value in My kingdom. To avoid doing
meaningless works, stay in continual communication with
Me. I will instruct you and teach you in the way
you should go; I will counsel you with My eye
upon you. (Luke 10:41, 42; Psalm 32:8) [Jesus
Calling by Sarah Young]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS TOPIC
1 Thessalonians 5:17 - Pray Without Ceasing.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20210628-0909.html
Luke 18:1 - We Need Always to Pray (updated).
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2009/20090417-0022.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
Steps to Peace by Billy Graham:
https://stepstopeace.org/
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David
DeRose, MD, MPH:
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Hope Awakens Bible Study Guides:
https://www.hopeawakens.study/lesson-header;id=2
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Islam and Christianity in Prophecy, The
Third and Final Conflict by Tim Roosenberg:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHSJB-fuHLU&list=PLWhQIHGTHlkaGg5Cwe3NDzWtFX8vNSpsE
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible
Revelation Now by Pastor Doug Batchelor:
https://www.revelationnow.com/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
