Never Give Up!
Jesus told us in Luke 18:1, “Always pray, and never give up” (NLT). Other versions say …become discouraged (HCSB), or …lose heart (NKJV), or …keep praying until the answer comes (TLB). This is how Jesus began His parable about a widow who kept going to a certain judge asking for justice against her enemy. This was an unrighteous judge who kept refusing her, until he finally gave in to get her off his back. Jesus’ point was that God, who is our righteous Judge, will all the more give us justice. But then Jesus asks, “…but will he [Jesus] find faith on earth?”
How often do we get discouraged and think because we don’t see answers right away, in our timing, that God isn’t going to answer? Therefore, we stop praying about it.
In my book, Pursuing Prayer, I tell about praying for 13 long years for my addicted son. I compare it to a puzzle…it takes a long time for the thousands of pieces of our lives and the lives of others involved to be fit exactly in the right places for the beautiful picture of our lives to be revealed. But that’s the simple version. The hard truth is that we are in a spiritual battle, and some battles, or wars, take longer to win and need varied strategies and different weapons. God’s Word gives us our strategies and prayer is our weapon (Ephesians 6:12-18). Fasting can also be a strategy and weapon.
But we’ve all been there…losing hope…doubting faith…waning prayer… I guess Jesus knew we’d all lose heart at some point, and that’s why He told us not to give up. We’ve all got a little Doubting Thomas in us at times. I certainly did. There were times I wondered if my prayers were just a puff of air bouncing off the ceiling. But they weren’t! God heard and answered as I continued to pray anyway. He was working as I was praying. And God did “exceedingly abundantly above” all I thought or asked (Ephesians 3:20). My son ended up becoming a pastor.
Whatever you’re praying for today, let’s not forget, Jesus said, “always” pray. He didn’t tell us to pray only if it looks possible, or when the answer looks easy, or when we understand how or when the answer will come. That’s why we need to keep praying in faith. We don’t see what takes place in the heavens as our prayers do battle with the forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12). Picture those angels fighting for you as you pray!
As Louie Giglio said, “If we knew what happens when we pray, we’d never cease to pray.”
Faith keeps hoping and hope keeps praying. So keep fighting, and don’t “lose heart,” “become discouraged,” or “give up.”
“All things are possible for those who believe” (Mark 9:23).
A lot of people are discouraged and losing heart for America lately. They think it’s too far gone, it can’t get any better, or that Jesus is coming soon so they don’t need to pray for America’s healing (but 2 Chronicles 7:14!). Perhaps this is a time when we need to increase our prayers instead of decrease them. We mustn’t let our emotions or our limited understanding rule our actions. We’re told over and over in Scripture to pray, and so we do it out of obedience, not feelings. For whatever reasons we don’t fully understand, God wants us to pray. Always. Unceasingly. Devotedly.
And “…in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Galatians 6:9 NKJV, or “…give up” NIV).
Keep all these verses in mind in the days to come. Sometimes things will look worse before they get better. Those are the times when we will be most tempted to give up. That may be the case in your life, or in America as we move closer to the election and beyond. The enemy wants us to lose heart because he knows (more than we do!) how powerful our prayers are! So don’t lose hope, keep praying, and never give up!
Friends, I don’t know what you’re going through personally, but let’s pray together now for whatever your needs are and for our nation. We are living in difficult times, which affects so many areas of our personal lives. Evil never gives up and it does not take breaks. So, as the enemy amps us his evil, in our lives or in our nation, let’s amp up our prayers! We can defeat him! Just as in Luke 18, our Judge will give us justice against our enemy. In the meantime, while we wait for His perfect timing, will He find faith in us and in our nation?
And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:7-8 NIV
Heavenly Father, we come to You with all our burdens (Matthew 11:28). We lay them at Your feet, knowing with You, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). With You, all things will work for good (Romans 8:28). With You, we can have peace in the midst of our storms (John 16:33). Forgive us when we have doubted (James 1:6). Help us to trust You more, for You do not forsake those who seek You (Psalm 9:10). May we be faithful to You and Your commandments (1 Kings 8:61) and never give up!. Let us see gladness in proportion to our troubles; may we see you working again in our lives and in our nation; let our children see Your glory (Psalm 90:15-16).
Lord I pray for every person praying this for whatever their needs are, whether physical, financial, relational, emotional or spiritual, that even in these hard days in our country, I pray You will provide exactly what they need out of the riches of Your glory. Most important, I pray for them to be strengthened with Your power, that Christ will dwell in their hearts through faith, that they will understand how wide, how long, how high, and how deep Your love is and to be filled with all the fullness of God. And I ask You to do exceedingly, abundantly above all they ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:16-20), in their lives and in our nation.
Father, we are in troubled times in America. Help us not to fear; hold us in Your righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10). Help us to keep our eyes on You so we will have Your peace (Isaiah 26:3). For You are in control, governing the nations (Psalm 22:28), setting up kings and disposing them (Daniel 2:20), and You will punish the wicked (Psalm 91:8). Help us to trust You completely, not on our own limited knowledge and understanding, as we seek Your wisdom and guidance (Proverbs 3:5-6). For we need not be afraid if we seek Your refuge (Psalm 91).
In Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.
Thanks for praying with me! I hope you’ll come back next time so we can pray together again. You can subscribe here so you won’t miss. And please feel free to share so others can pray too.
Blessings, Penny
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