Luke 18:1-5

“yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.” vs. 5

Jesus certainly is not implying that God has anything in common with an unjust judge in this little parable. He’s simply making a point about persevering in prayer. The judge granted the widow’s petition because she made a pest of herself. It was the only way for him to get rid of her. This is not how God operates! We should not expect that if we keep ragging God about a lottery win eventually we’ll get our wish. This isn’t advice on how to manipulate God. Jesus just wants us to know that we shouldn’t give up on prayer, nor should we sanitize our prayers in order to make them acceptable. It’s the regular prayer that is important for our souls, not whether or not they are answered. Too often we worry about how to get our prayers answered in a favorable way. We’re concerned about the results! But what really counts is the process, the regular petitions of supplication and thanksgiving that are a natural part of a disciple’s life. These daily, hourly even, conversations are the foundation of a personal relationship with God and can continue through our entire lives. Are our prayers heard? Of course…there’s no doubt about that. Will we always get what we want? No…there’s no doubt about that either. It’s the praying that’s the key…and we’ll always receive what we need.

Thought for the Day: What’s the state of my prayer life?