He also spoke a parable to them that they must always pray, and not give up, Luke 18:1 WEB

Luke begins chapter eighteen of his gospel introducing a short parable Jesus taught about the importance of prayer. In the parable, Jesus teaches of a woman who petitions a judge who does not fear God. After ignoring her request for justice on multiple occasions, the judge finally relents. He hears her case and judges in her favor. The moral of the story is persistence in prayer. If the woman’s persistence moved an unrighteous judge to act in her favor, how much more will God intervene for those he loves that always pray. 

Jesus famously taught his disciples how to pray. We read in Luke 11:2-4, “‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. WEB” 

After teaching his disciples how to pray, Jesus taught a parable about a man who requested assistance from a friend at night. In the parable, the man does not help his friend out of righteousness. Rather, he helps the man because of his determination. Like the unrighteous judge, the friend did not want to give assistance but eventually did because of persistence. Similarly, Jesus taught the faithful to petition God with persistence, to always pray.  

Pray Without Ceasing

Christ set the example of a consistent prayer life. The Lord sometimes prayed alone as we read in Luke 5:16, “But he withdrew himself into the desert, and prayed. WEB” At times, Jesus made personal requests of God as in Luke 22:42 which reads, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done. WEB” Also, Jesus prayed in groups and for groups. We read Christ’s words in John 17:20 as he said, “Not for these only do I pray, but for those also who will believe in me through their word. WEB”

In addition, the apostle Paul taught the value of persistent prayer. He writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Always rejoice. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you. WEB” When we always pray, we demonstrate the Lord’s value in our lives, staying connected to the source of our comfort, protection, and supply. 

We don’t need to shoulder our burdens alone. As we always pray, taking our praises and our troubles alike to God, we have the ultimate support of the Creator of the universe. For this reason, Paul writes in Philippians 4:6, “In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. WEB” 

Yesterday’s Devotional: Dead to Sin