2 He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. 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 about men, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!'"
Here we have the beginning of the Parable of the Persistent Widow - the key of which Jesus hangs on the door in verse one:
1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. Luke 18:1 (NIV)
Effectual, fervent prayer of the righteous availeth much according to James. God takes great delight in the consistency and perseverance of our prayer life particularly regarding our requests for spiritual mercies. Are we praying against a certain bondage to sin that is a familial “bent” – one passed from generation to generation? Are we praying for a wayward child to find their way back to the foot of the cross and the light of home? How about all of the prayers for our lost loved ones and spheres of influence to find salvation through our Lord Jesus? What about our prayers for comfort by the greatest Comforter - emotionally, physically, and mentally? Jesus has a word for us – “Don’t give up!” I am reminded of a verse in Isaiah:
You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest, 7 and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth. Isaiah 62:6-7 (NIV)
The “watchmen” of the city were to hold God to His promises knowing, of course, that is exactly what He Himself desired. Whenever we pray back God’s Word to Him Scripture tells us:
14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him. 1 John 5:14-15 (NIV)
Of these verses the Bible Knowledge Commentary states:
“One who believes in the name of Jesus Christ has an assurance (parr¢sia) in approaching God in prayer (cf. 3:21). Requests made in accordance with God’s will are heard by Him and a believer can be certain of receiving answers to them.”
“If six or sixty prayers are past, pray on and never faint; a blessing surely comes at last, to cheer a drooping saint.” K. H. Von Bogatzky
“God will have me to be faithful; and should not He be so Himself? Am I to trust in His Word? Then, surely, He will not forsake me, but be as good as His Word. Heaven and earth must pass away, but His Word will not; He is ever faithful. If I do not believe this, I think blasphemously of God, and can have no help or comfort from His Word: but if I truly believe Him to be faithful, I believe enough. This is what He only desires; and if I really do, my faith will not be moved even in the hottest trials: the Word will hold me up, though I receive it even in weakness. But my faith must be attended with continual prayer.” K. H. Von Bogatzky
“No sea is deeper than the ocean of His love. There is no army stronger than His hosts, no force greater than His throne of grace, no enemy who can overcome His direct and indirect work in our lives.” Robert J. Morgan
“‘Pray without ceasing’”...and here the word ‘pray’ does not mean to beg or to plead as if God were unwilling to give – but simply to expose by faith every situation as it arises, to the all-sufficiency of the One who indwells you by His life.” Major W. Ian Thomas
20 They were helped in fighting them, and God handed the Hagrites and all their allies over to them, because they cried out to him during the battle. He answered their prayers, because they trusted in him. 1 Chron 5:20 (NIV)
2 "This is what the LORD says, he who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it--the LORD is his name: 3 'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.' Jer 33:2-3 (NIV)