Always pray and never give up!!
Recently I have read Luke 18. It is the passage about the persistent widow and I was just reminded and inspired to start praying for my children more.
Often we as parents feel so guilty about all the things, opportunities or experiences our children are missing out on, but one of the biggest gifts we as parents can give our children (besides Jesus and the truth of his Word) is our prayers. Have you ever stood still and thought, How many people in my life, actually pray for me on a daily basis, with persistent and faithfulness? Not many, maybe just your spouse or your parents. My own mum died last year and it struck me one day that the person I know who prayed for me on a daily basis is gone, and besides me missing her, I am also going to miss that comforting thought that she prayed for me faithfully.
Let’s read the passage again!
Often we as parents feel so guilty about all the things, opportunities or experiences our children are missing out on, but one of the biggest gifts we as parents can give our children (besides Jesus and the truth of his Word) is our prayers. Have you ever stood still and thought, How many people in my life, actually pray for me on a daily basis, with persistent and faithfulness? Not many, maybe just your spouse or your parents. My own mum died last year and it struck me one day that the person I know who prayed for me on a daily basis is gone, and besides me missing her, I am also going to miss that comforting thought that she prayed for me faithfully.
Let’s read the passage again!
The Parable of the Persistent Widow
18 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought.3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’
4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”
6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?
18 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought.3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’
4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”
6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?
When I looked closely at this passage I realized the following:
The Widow
The widow in the passage was without status or means. She had no husband to protect or defend her. Her situation was hopeless.
The widow came to the judge repeatedly asking for justice. Later she drove him crazy and wore him out. She had no other hope or place to go.
The widow in the passage was without status or means. She had no husband to protect or defend her. Her situation was hopeless.
The widow came to the judge repeatedly asking for justice. Later she drove him crazy and wore him out. She had no other hope or place to go.
The Judge
The judge in the passage neither feared God nor cared about people. He also ignored the widow.
After the persistence of the widow, he admitted he did not care about her or God, but because she drove him crazy, he saw that she got justice, because she was wearing him out with her constant requests.
The judge in the passage neither feared God nor cared about people. He also ignored the widow.
After the persistence of the widow, he admitted he did not care about her or God, but because she drove him crazy, he saw that she got justice, because she was wearing him out with her constant requests.
God’s Children (us as parents)
We are Jesus’s beloved bride. Our status and position could not be better, we are his bride for which he loves and cares. We have so many things on our side. We have the Holy Spirit, we have the word of God and we have bold access to the King of Kings through our Bridegroom Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:16) by our prayers. We do not wear him out with our requests; he wants to hear from us.
We are Jesus’s beloved bride. Our status and position could not be better, we are his bride for which he loves and cares. We have so many things on our side. We have the Holy Spirit, we have the word of God and we have bold access to the King of Kings through our Bridegroom Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:16) by our prayers. We do not wear him out with our requests; he wants to hear from us.
God
God is not like the unjust Judge, he cares deeply about us and he is a just God. He cares so much about us and our children that He gave up His own son for us. As Jesus said: ”Learn from the unjust Judge, even he rendered a just decision at the end.” So shouldn’t we believe that God will listen to our prayers, especially when we pray for our children?
The parable ends with this profound statement: “But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”
God is not like the unjust Judge, he cares deeply about us and he is a just God. He cares so much about us and our children that He gave up His own son for us. As Jesus said: ”Learn from the unjust Judge, even he rendered a just decision at the end.” So shouldn’t we believe that God will listen to our prayers, especially when we pray for our children?
The parable ends with this profound statement: “But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”
I was wondering: “Do I have enough faith to pray for my kids and believe that if I am persistent and never give up, God will grand me my request? He is a just and loving God. Do I have enough faith to pray constantly for my kid’s salvations and choices they make in life? Will Jesus find me to have faith when he returns? Do I trust God that He will not ignore me but that he will grant me justice?
Will I have enough faith to rather pray that my kids should increase in faith and knowledge, that they should be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:9) OR will my prayer only be?: “Please let him make the hockey/rugby team”
Will I have enough faith to rather pray, “Lord please let them keep themselves pure, so that they can be a special utensil for honorable use. Let their lives be clean, and ready for the Master to use him/her for every good work. May my children run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, may my child pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.” (2 Tim 2: 21-22) OR will my prayer just be, “Please, let my child pass the exams or find a job?”
Will I have enough faith to rather pray, “Lord please let them keep themselves pure, so that they can be a special utensil for honorable use. Let their lives be clean, and ready for the Master to use him/her for every good work. May my children run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, may my child pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.” (2 Tim 2: 21-22) OR will my prayer just be, “Please, let my child pass the exams or find a job?”
Let our prayers be persistent, urgent and heavenly minded.
As you study the word of God pray these truths over your child’s life. God the righteous Father will be faithful and grant you justice. As we pray persistently and on a daily basis for our kids, we realize how desperately we too need Him and how we are so depended on Him as parents. It keeps us connected and in fellowship with Him
Let us always pray and never give up so when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?
Let us always pray and never give up so when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?
Happy praying!!!