Prayer is the spiritual connection to walk with God and the foundation for Christian living. Life without prayer is an empty life. 1 John 5:14-15 – If we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us; And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desire of him. The followings are discussed: Believe Prayer is Effective; Persevere in Prayer, and Pray with the Right attitude.
Believe Prayer is Effective: Prayer can be described as what connects a receiver with a giver and which is strengthened by the right attitude. Jesus used parable to express the need to be persistent and present requests with the right attitude (Luke 11:5-8 ). Persistence is an evidence of intimacy and total reliance on God to meet needs. Some people might be tempted to think God doesn’t answer prayer, forgetting that prayer is a spiritual connection and requires perseverance in commitment and faith to be effective.
The parable illustrates that hard heart can be penetrated and convinced through persistence. God is willing to answer us and will not be annoyed by our continuous requests. He is not like a man that gets annoyed over persistent request for what he is not willing to give. He cannot be angry with us when we keep on asking. He is interested in continuous action if done by faith (Luke 11:9-13). He wants us to ask, seek and knock until we receive. We can go to Him again and again; He can’t rebuke us for observing what He has told us to do. Jesus asks us to add the gift of Holy Spirit to list our requests to God. If He is willing to give His Spirit, He will definitely grant our requests. We need His Spirit to walk with Him and fulfil the prophesy (Luke 3:16; Acts 2:14-21; Acts 1:4&8; Joel 2:28-29).
Persevere in Prayer: if we have not received answer to our prayer, we are not to lose heart or doubt God’s love. Jesus asks us to pray always, and not to be tired of prayer. God might be testing our persistence and faith when He delays answering prayer (Luke 1:1-3). But when we are persistent and turn the right attitude He will answer us. Jesus used the illustration to describe the benefit of being persistent. The heart of the wicked and unwilling judge was touched by persistence of the poor and helpless widow that was seeking justice for the injustice done to her. The Judge couldn’t have granted justice if he considered financial condition of the woman, but he was compelled to grant justice as a result of the woman’s persistence.
If the unjust judge could grant justice, how much more the loving and righteous God who is willing to grant us justice. God will one day upturn injustices and vindicate His children (Luke 18:4-8 ). All we need to do is to look up to Him and ask for justice.
Pray with Right Attitude: Jesus used another parable to show that prayer is answered if offered with the right attitude. He made it known that self-righteousness and good deeds are not the condition for a prayer to be answered, but the right heart. He said the Pharisee who trusted in his good work and self-righteousness would not receive from God while the sinner who acknowledged his sinful condition, humbled himself and asked for forgiveness would be answered (2 Corinthians 10:12; Isaiah 64:6; Acts 4:12). Therefore we can only challenge God by faithful lifestyle as Hezekiah did.
Jesus described prayer offered in humility as prayer God will answer speedily. God answers someone who acknowledged his sinful condition and seeks mercy and forgiveness. He loves someone who repents, forsakes his sin and asks for the grace to build intimate relationship with Him. Christians need the help of brethren and spiritual leaders to remain persistent in prayer during difficult circumstances (James 4:3). Lesson texts: Luke 11:5-13; 18:1-14
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