IMPORTUNATE PREVAILING PRAYING

They must always pray and never lose heart – Luke 18:1, Phillips

“Our Lord taught His disciples by contrast as well as by comparison. Contrary to what may superficially appear to be the teaching of two parables recorded in Luke’s Gospel, God is neither a churlish neighbour loth to bestir himself to grant our requests (Luke 11:5), nor is He a rapacious judge dispensing reluctant justice (Luke 18:7). He is illustrating one of the secrets of prevailing prayer. If an ungenerous neighbour can in the end be coerced by his friend’s shameless persistence (the very word used) into granting his request, how much more will their Heavenly Father give them what they need? If an unjust judge can be badgered into giving justice to a wronged widow simply because he is wearied to death with her appeals, how much more will God respond to the urgent cry of His children?

Half-hearted asking comes away empty-handed. Lukewarmness in prayer as in everything else is revolting to God. Shameless persistence, an urgency which will not be denied, returns with the desired boom in its hands. It was shameless asking that brought to the suppliant friend as many loaves as he needed. His first “asking” met with curt refusal. Then he began to “seek”, to implore his neighbour’s help in his distress, only to be denied again. At last he resorted to “knocking” and hammered at the door until importunity triumphed over obstinate refusal. The same shameless persistence secured for the widow the vindication and redress she had so long and vainly sought.

That “they must always pray and never lose heart” was our Lord’s word to the disciples. God may not always give at our first asking because He has something important to teach us as we “call upon Him day and night.” We may need to “seek” and “knock” as well as “ask.” But He is not impatient of our constant coming, and He will respond to our importunity.”