Continued Prayer

 When people talk about reading the bible my main advice is to just keep reading. Some parts are easier to read, and I know that that some places are better to start than others, but just keep reading! I also think it's important to make it a goal to read the whole bible. If that seems like too big of a goal, start with just reading the New Testament. When you are done reading the New Testament, do it again! Some people get so stuck in a certain book or chapter, they forget to move on. They don't realize that the whole book is connected and that there could be other books or chapters that will help you understand your favorite book even more. So, I know what you are thinking right now, why am I talking about the bible so much when I titled this post continued prayer?? I hardly ever recommend going back to a certain set of verses unless a certain amount of time or reading has taken place. If you have a daily verse you go over, I understand. If you are trying to memorize something so you are repeating it until you get it, I understand. One of the very few exceptions I have to this rule is the verses I want to look at today. Let's look at Luke Chapter 18,

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ 4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’ ” 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 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? 8 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?” 

Have you ever had something on your mind that was super important, and you needed to pray about it? As soon as it came up you made the commitment to keep praying until God answered your prayer. Three days later, the weekend is over and your busy week is in full swing, you go to have your prayer time, your mind is all over the place and as you finish you say to yourself, " I think I am forgetting something". You walk away, it bothers you for maybe five more minutes and then you forget about it. Then all of the sudden you are taking a shower the next morning and it hits you, I was so busy yesterday, I didn't spend any time thinking or praying about this huge thing on my mind. Guilt kicks in, you are going to be late for work, but hopefully on the way to work you will have a few minutes for a quick prayer. Sometimes we remember to have a quick prayer, other times we forget. Either way, no one is going to confuse us with the persistent widow. Prayer can change things, prayer can move mountains, it can change our whole attitude about something. KEEP PRAYING! God keeps saying come to me, God keeps saying ask for anything in my name. He wants to hear from us, but sadly we often forget. Luke 18 is something I think we should read on a regular basis. Maybe once a week or maybe once a month, either way, we need a reminder. What right now is on your mind the most? What right now is bothering you the most? Is someone sick? Is someone going through a hard time? No matter the situation, my challenge today is that we become like the persistent widow and take it to God so many times that he has no choice but to answer us quickly. Now stop reading and go pray.