Persistent Prayers
I always heard people say we shouldn't pray for something over & over, but my bible tells me different. In the beginning of Luke 18 Jesus tells The parable of The Persistent Widow. This parable was intended to show the disciples they should always pray and not give up. (Luke 18:1) The widow in this parable continuously asked the "ungodly judge" to grant her justice, but he keep denying her request. Eventually he made sure she got justice, but it was for his own selfish reasons. (Luke 18:5) If a godless judge responds to constant pressure, how much more will our loving God respond to us? (Luke 18:7-8) My bible says, "To persist in prayer and not give up does not mean to subject oneself to endless repetition or painfully long prayer sessions. Being in constant prayer means keeping our request continually before God as we live for him day by day, believing he will answer. As we persist in prayer, we grow in character, faith, and hope." (Life Application Study Bible NIV) Persistent praying was also mentioned in Luke 11:5-10. You may feel like your nagging God when you keep going to him about the same things. Praying for something over and over isn't begging, it's showing persistence. Constant praying can free you from the constant chaos of the world today. He wants to help us (1 Peter 5:7), but he can't help us with something we don't bring to him in prayer. Don't hold back your prayers, keeping praying! This will strengthen your prayer life and communication with him.
Be bold in your prayers, be without shame. The blind beggar in Luke 18:35-42 was BOLD when it came to his request. He wasn't ashamed of what others had to say, that's just how desperate he was. How desperate are you for the things you need God to do in your life? He cried out to Jesus twice, the people passing told him to be quiet!! BUT he was persistent, because he knew that God was able! Sometimes in church, we get shy and hold back our praise or worship because of the people around us. I encourage you to be a BOLD BELIEVER and let nothing keep you from the blessings of God. (Luke 18:43) Imagine if the beggar would have kept quiet when the people told him to. He would have never been healed. His faith and his persistence is the reason he was able to see again. (Luke 18:42) It's funny how even a blind man who couldn't physically see , believed that Jesus was the messiah, but the Pharisees who had sight couldn't see that Jesus was the messiah. (Luke 18:38) The blind beggar had to go off what he "heard" about Jesus, he didn't need proof to believe. Now that's great faith!
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Having a prayer life is important even for the younger generation. I keep telling myself, the moment Khayson (My nephew) is old enough to communicate, I am going to pray over the phone with him so that he can know who Jesus is early on. In Luke 18:16 Jesus tells the people, "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." It's never too early and never too late to introduce your children to Jesus. The people during this time were bringing their children to be touched by Jesus, and the disciples were upset about this. (Luke 18:15) They figured since the children were so young they couldn't grasp Jesus' teaching, however, Jesus still welcomed them. (1 Timothy 4:12) He even told the people if you don't receive the Kingdom of God like a little child you will not enter it. (Luke 18:17) I'm sure you've heard the saying "Have faith like a child". This saying comes from Matthew 18:2-4. Having faith like a child means trusting God explicitly. Children rely on their parents for everything, because they aren't able to fend for themselves. God wants us to have this same attitude when it comes to relying on him. Do you have faith like a child?
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The way you pray matters. The Parable of Two Men who Prayed showed how dangerous self-righteousness can be. He didn't go to the temple to pray to God, all he did was announce how good he was. The tax collector prayed a humble prayer, recognizing his sin and begging for mercy. (Luke 18:13) We should pray in the same posture. When we exalt ourselves before God he will humble us, and when we humble ourselves before God he will exalt us. (Luke 18:14) I'm sure none of us have a problem with this, but pray for the people who are self-righteous, for they know not what they do. (Luke 23:34)
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I've always been the type to pray for absolutely everything! One time it was raining outside and I didn't have an umbrella. So I prayed that God would stop the rain and give me enough time to go to my car and back. I gave it a couple minutes, and the rained slowed down giving me time to run to my car and back. I've done this multiple time and God has always showed up. This may sound crazy, but I believe that God can do the impossible! (Luke 18:27) This is what Jesus told the man who asked, "Who then can be saved?" in Luke 18:26. Are you believing God for something the world have deemed impossible? I encourage you to KEEP BELIEVING, and KEEP PRAYING.