November 24

Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart: — Luke 18:1 BSB

We are all in danger of becoming careless in prayer. Many people never pray at all, and even those who say prayers regularly may not truly be praying. Just as flowers and plants need sunshine and rain to grow, human lives need God’s love and grace to thrive.

The special lesson Jesus teaches here is the importance of persistence in prayer. We ought to pray always and never give up, even when it seems like God isn’t answering. Some people give up praying just when God is about to send the answer.

It may seem strange to use the example of an unjust judge to illustrate God’s responsiveness to prayer, but the point is that if persistence can move even an unjust judge, how much more will our loving Father respond to the earnest prayers of His children?