Praying With Heart

Luke 18:1-8

It started with a question from the Pharisees about ’when the kingdom of God would come’, Luke 17: 20. Our Lord’s response to those Pharisees who had in mind a physical kingdom, not faith in the Lord Jesus, the king of kings, surprised them and the Disciples. “For behold the kingdom of God is in the midst of you”!

Jesus then focused on His disciples, questions undoubtedly written on their faces.   He cited old testament history they all would know with examples of ‘things happening quickly and unexpectedly.” He reminded them of Noah and the flood, Lot and the destruction of Sodom, and likely  left them with no small amount of anxiety. He spoke the parable to speak to that anxiety, so they would ‘always pray and not lose heart.’   

The widow came to this judge looking to have justice, probably because life had dealt her one injustice after another. She was persistent! Getting no response at first she kept coming and kept coming. Finally the judge gave in and as much as said, ‘because this widow keeps bothering me, I’ll give her justice, so that she will be quiet!  

The contrast between this Judge and our Lord Jesus is the point of the parable. Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Luke 18:7

Right now... pray and do not lose heart. Notice what and who have been on your prayer list for a long time. Pray with a refreshed spirit for God’s Kingdom to be evident in that situation, in those lives.