LOVE LETTERS|DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR SINGLES|DAY 286

Scripture for today

The Message Luke 18:1-8 Jesus told them a story showing that it was necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit. He said, "There was once a judge in some city who never gave God a thought and cared nothing for people. A widow in that city kept after him: 'My rights are being violated. Protect me!' "He never gave her the time of day. But after this went on and on he said to himself, 'I care nothing what God thinks, even less what people think. But because this widow won't quit badgering me, I'd better do something and see that she gets justice—otherwise I'm going to end up beaten black-and-blue by her pounding.'" Then the Master said, "Do you hear what that judge, corrupt as he is, is saying? So what makes you think God won't step in and work justice for his chosen people, who continue to cry out for help? Won't he stick up for them? I assure you, he will. He will not drag his feet. But how much of that kind of persistent faith will the Son of Man find on the earth when he returns?"

Jesus wanted to teach his disciples about the need for constant prayer by using a concrete example we can all understand. 

 A widow who had been wronged decided to set things right, so she approached a local judge with her petition. The woman was most likely part of her town's impoverished underclass, while the judge was a member of the town elite. In addition to the inequality of her social status, there was the issue of gender. The widow was less likely to receive the judge's help simply because she was a woman. It would have been easy for the judge to ignore the woman-and at first, that was what he did. 

 Jesus used some of these inequalities to illustrate the difference between humans and God. He taught that God is the Creator,  and we are mere creatures. There's no equality in this relationship, but God demolishes the gulf separating us from him by giving us the gift of prayer, which we can use to plead our case before His throne. 

  God is not like the wicked Judge (godless man) in this story; because of His great love for us, he wants us to pray and promises to answer our petition. He wants us to persist in our requests just like the widow persisted with the judge. 

 God gives answers speedily and other times at a time we think is slower, but in His wisdom it's the best of times. The next time you have a request for God think like the persistent widow, and make your case good with much energy, understanding in His word, constancy and determination.

Prayer: Father, help me pray with consistency and great determination.