5.10.19 Praise & Prayer Prompt: Keep Praying

PRAISE & PRAYER PROMPT ••• Luke 18:1 says, “Now he told them a parable on the need for them to pray always and not give up.”
The passage goes on with Jesus sharing a parable about a persistent woman who relentlessly put her case before the judge before he eventually ruled in her favor.
It’s hard to pray repeatedly for the same thing.
In these situations when it feels like God is silent, we have to pause and reflect on our request.
Are we praying for something within God’s will?
Psalm 37:4 tells us that “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.”
When we truly seek, worship, praise, and love God—in other words, when we’ve taken delight in the Lord—His will becomes our will and we will naturally pray accordingly.
But what if what we’re asking for isn’t that clear?
Maybe we’re asking for a new job.
Something that isn’t really bad for us, but we’re not sure if God wants us to accept it or not.
Or we’re praying for a new car.
We can make an argument that the one we have is older and needs some repairs, but is the request for a new car legit or is it a way to keep up with social status?
Motives matter in prayer, according to James 4:3, which says, “You ask and don’t receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.”
God knows our hearts and motives.
And also, God will never endorse sinful requests.
But if the prayer we’re praying does line up with God’s will, and we know that then pray, keep praying, then pray some more.
Never give up.
Jesus’ parable is one of encouragement.
Keep showing up at the Throne of Grace with your prayers.
Keep petitioning God.
Pull from Scripture and remind Him of His promises.
He doesn’t need the reminder but it reassures your heart and motivates you to keep praying.
Today, as you pray, thank Jesus for the story of the persistent woman and the encouragement to keep praying.
Ask the Holy Spirit to strengthen you and if necessary, search your heart and motives.