Be Persistent

1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, 2 saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. 3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ 4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’”
Luke 18:1-5 (NKJV)

He spoke in parables to His disciples and a discerning world, so that those who hear and can connect the dots may pick up actionable intelligence and knowledge and use to navigate the tortuous terrains of the world. This certain widow never gave up on her case before an unjust judge. She kept at it even in the face of rejection, glaring failure and loss, she kept on keeping on. The race of life isn't a 100m dash, but a marathon for those with stamina to endure and keep at the goals and will of God for their lives. The parable speaks to our persistence in prayer. Prayer in a world that have grown cold and hostile to prayers in public spaces and counting.... Prayer remains one of the potent tools of the believer, and to lay down the banners of prayers is to surrender to the adversary without a fight.

6 Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. 7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
Luke 18:6-8 (NKJV)

We must not grow weary, neither must we faint or become weak in lifting up holy hands and praying to the God the Father in all our days, for the influence of the world will get stronger and drain and sap the energies of the believing world unless the faithful stays strong, faithful and persistent. We ought to pray and not lose heart, it is the Lord's mandate for us.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi