Continually

Psalm 105:⁴ “Go to the Lord for help; and worship him continually.” (GNT, emphasis added).

Yesterday, we saw that prayer and justice are inseparable. We can plead for justice because of the cross of Calvary where justice was executed. Therefore, when we come to God and ask for justice, we are not looking at our own merit. It is on His merit and because He has paid the full price for our sins. So, we can ask for justice and what we will receive is mercy. Mercy because from where we stand, from our works, we are getting what we do not deserve. But justice because from where He stands, He has taken the punishment for our sins already.

Luke 18:¹ “One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.” (emphasis added). This scripture presents us with only two options – you can pray, or you can give up, you cannot do both. You cannot prayerfully give up or give up while praying. Once you give up while praying the prayer ends. Strangely, Christians prayerfully give up claiming to have prayed and left it by faith. Mind you, the ‘faith’ is not the real faith but the faith of ‘I am tired! I am done!’ Do not give up, pray! Jesus is saying, you can either pray or you can give up. Today God is saying to you, look up, do not give up!

How do I keep praying when there are no apparent answers? Why should I keep praying when it appears as if I am not getting any responses or answers to my prayers from heaven? Beginning today we will explore four reasons why you should keep praying even when it appears there are no answers. The first is, Persistent Praying Helps Me Focus On God. There is something about consistently coming before God, the Just Judge, and praying consistently that keeps our focus on Him and not on our situations, the people around us, or our circumstances. Consistent prayer keeps your focus on God and that is hugely powerful.

When we focus on God, praying consistently, it reminds us of our source. It reminds us that we are not our own source, God is our source. Praying consistently reminds us that we cannot help ourselves, only God can. Praying consistently reminds us that we cannot lift ourselves, only God can lift us. Remember that the parable Jesus shares in Luke 18:1-8 (please read) is a parable of contrast and not a parable of comparison. As a parable of comparison, it will imply that we need to trouble God to get answers to our prayers. How can anyone trouble the Eternal? God does not age. But as a parable of contrast, it teaches us that, unlike the unjust judge that needed to be pestered, God is actually eager to answer our prayers.

Prayer: Father, to You the prayer answering God do all flesh come, in Jesus Name. Amen!