This is the text of Pastor Jims Friday Devotion as heard on WATH:It has been my pleasure to share with you this week from the word of God about how we can become effective in our prayer life and how prayer time can be a time of joy. Now I have one last lesson before my week with you ends. This lesson is about the importance of being persistent in prayer. There is a parable that makes this point quite clearly beginning at Luke 18:1. 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 about men. And there was a widow in the town who kept coming to him with a 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 about men, yet because this woman keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming.’” “And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 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 that he will see they get justice, and quickly.” In this parable the judge was not loving or caring and had no interest in the needs of this widow. I think it is funny that he says he is going to give her what she wants so that she won’t wear him out. The fact is, she had already worn him out, otherwise he would not be giving in. The point is: don’t give up! I want to make sure that you understand that the persistence is not necessary because God is holding out on the things you need. Sometimes there is a spiritual battle taking place. Prayer can be a battle. The apostle Paul said to fight the good fight of faith. The good fight of faith is the fight that you win. Faith battles are won in prayer by those can stand strong in faith trust in the integrity of God’s Word. Perhaps you have been praying for a loved one to come to Christ and be saved. Don’t give up. Even if it has been years. As long as that loved one is alive, there is still hope of salvation. There is an excellent book called Prayers That Avail Much. It is based on that Scripture from James 5 about the prayer of a righteous man. In the king James version of the Bible that verse reads: “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” This book gives sample prayers of faith based on Scripture. But it is important that you take the time to study those Scriptures so that you are convinced of what they mean and you can trust them as the truth with all your heart. Do that. Then pray. And wow what a difference it will make. As w close out this week, I would like to pray for all of you who have been listening. Heavenly Father, I thank you each listener and pray that they would each draw nearer to you and grow in their understanding of you, your great love, and your precious word. May they grow in faith as your word becomes deeply planted in their hearts. I ask for your hand of protection to be upon them as the follow your leading. I give you thanks and pray these things in Jesus’ name. Amen. This is Pastor Jim Lambert. May God bless you as you seek to follow Him.
Posted on: Fri, 24 Jan 2014 04:27:45 +0000
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