Pray...and not give up

Luke 18 : 1 - 8

...his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night..

However....will he find faith on earth?

I am beginning to truly appreciate the ministry of persistently holding up oneself and others before God. Many times, I am asked to remember someone in prayer and I may do so for a short period, but if there is no further request, I tend to automatically remove the person from my list. I may not ask, but at times, I guess that the issue for prayer is not completely settled. But sad to say, my prayer may not last as long as many problems do. The most challenging to persistently uphold in prayer are the long haul ones of relational issues and chronic illness. And each of us would probably have one or more of these on our heart.

Fortunately, the psalmists teach me how to pray persistently.They are very open with their requests. They cry out to God day and night. They teach me the words and language of persistently and shamelessly pleading one's case. How long O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts.....I cried out to God to hear me...at night I stretched out untiring hands...my spirit grew faint.

The psalmists of long ago, truly knew how to pray. They trusted in a God who had come through for them many times before.....and each time a new challenge was faced, they recalled his works in the past. I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works; and consider what your hands have done. I spread out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. In the same way, each of us has a unique 'history' with God. He has graced each one individually and all Christians corporately, in the past. I know that when a new challenge comes along, I tend to be fearful and anxious. The only answer is to look back, to recall the ways that God has worked in the past....and to trust that he will continue to work things out in the future. But in the meantime, the Lord asks his 'disciples'....that includes us.....how much of that kind of persistent faith will the Son of Man find on the earth when he returns?