God desires us to align our hearts with His as we pray daily, as a child who feels comfortable with his father, trusting His provision and perfect response to our daily needs.
“Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’” And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says.” Luke 18:1-6
Here are the next two verses in Luke 18:
“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?”
Is Jesus trying to tell us that if we pray intensely and often enough that God will always give us what we want?
Prayer often begins with our desires, crying out to our Father who loves us unconditionally, certainly more than an uncaring judge. We are God’s children and He delights to hear our prayers. God sees the craving of our hearts and knows what we need in His perfect timing.
There have been several defining moments in my life that I have begged God for a specific request every single day, even multiple times a day. Many of those prayers God answered in such sweet and distinct ways that declared to my heart of how undeniably He loves me. But I am painfully aware of other seasons where I pleaded with my Heavenly Father to answer my supplication repeatedly and the answer was a resounding “no.” I may never know the “why”, and to this day don’t understand how God answered my passionate, earnest prayer, uttered with such fervor.
But I am learning (sometimes slowly) to trust God’s sovereignty and His heart towards me. He’s such a good, tender Father that wants the best for his children. God desires us to align our hearts with His as we pray daily, as a child who feels comfortable with his father, trusting His provision and perfect response to our daily needs. So never give up praying and always remain faithful!
“Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18
“The goal of prayer is not to change God’s mind about what you want. The goal of prayer is to change your own heart, to want what He wants, to the glory of God.” Chris Fabry, War Room: Prayer is a Powerful Weapon
