No-one likes nagging. It is a sure fire way to provoke frustration and get mere malicious compliance. Yet, Jesus uses nagging as an example of the persistence and trust we need when seeking the Lord's provision.
"[Jesus] told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’ ” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” " (Lk 18:1–8).
This story does not tell us that we need to endlessly repeat ourselves to catch God's attention; He always hears us through Jesus Christ. But this parable does teach disciples that God is soooo much better than a crooked judge. If you can get justice from a crooked judge by persistent asking, how much faster, how much better, will it be when God comes through for His people?
We must not loose heart in our prayers. Too many of our prayers are asked half heartedly, not expecting God to answer (Ja 1:6–8). Or they are prayed to serve our own passions (Ja 3:18). We heap up empty prayers that God does very well not to answer.
But do not loose heart! Cry to Him day and night!
"I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning." (Ps 130:5–6).
Jesus hears you! And he will answer from heaven all that is asked in his Name (Jn 14:13-14)!
Wait on the LORD, and He will deliver you!
Knock on the gates of heaven as the persistent one who asks at all hours for his need to be met:
"And [Jesus] said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened." (Lk 11:5–10).
Seek the LORD and you shall find Him. Knock on His door so that He may open up the storehouses of heavenly provision and rain down on you the abundant blessings promised for the people of God. Ask and receive!
God is the Good Father who provides for us. As a good father, he will discipline us, and train us in righteousness, but He will never neglect us. He is with us always through Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit.
"What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Lk 11:10–13).
What have you got to loose! If you don't ask, you won't receive, so ask away! (Ja 4:2)
Please join me in praying for God's will to be done on earth, for His church to be built up and for true justice to reign.
Power of Petition
No-one likes nagging. It is a sure fire way to provoke frustration and get mere malicious compliance. Yet, Jesus uses nagging as an example of the persistence and trust we need when seeking the Lord's provision.
"[Jesus] told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’ ” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” " (Lk 18:1–8).
This story does not tell us that we need to endlessly repeat ourselves to catch God's attention; He always hears us through Jesus Christ. But this parable does teach disciples that God is soooo much better than a crooked judge. If you can get justice from a crooked judge by persistent asking, how much faster, how much better, will it be when God comes through for His people?
We must not loose heart in our prayers. Too many of our prayers are asked half heartedly, not expecting God to answer (Ja 1:6–8). Or they are prayed to serve our own passions (Ja 3:18). We heap up empty prayers that God does very well not to answer.
But do not loose heart! Cry to Him day and night!
"I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning." (Ps 130:5–6).
Jesus hears you! And he will answer from heaven all that is asked in his Name (Jn 14:13-14)!
Wait on the LORD, and He will deliver you!
Knock on the gates of heaven as the persistent one who asks at all hours for his need to be met:
"And [Jesus] said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened." (Lk 11:5–10).
Seek the LORD and you shall find Him. Knock on His door so that He may open up the storehouses of heavenly provision and rain down on you the abundant blessings promised for the people of God. Ask and receive!
God is the Good Father who provides for us. As a good father, he will discipline us, and train us in righteousness, but He will never neglect us. He is with us always through Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit.
"What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Lk 11:10–13).
What have you got to loose! If you don't ask, you won't receive, so ask away! (Ja 4:2)
Please join me in praying for God's will to be done on earth, for His church to be built up and for true justice to reign.
Samuel Lindsay