Day 36 – “Persisting In Prayer”

“And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 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? 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?” Luke 18:6-8

The power of prayer is vital and necessary for all believers!
This discipline of solitude and conversation to God is also crucial.  This is our lifeline.  This is our source of reconnecting to not only all of creation, but the creator!  Prayer is also the realignment of our wants and needs and God’s desire for us.  We can often get ahead of God.  We plot, we plan, we make requests of God and at times these are more like wishes for a genie and not conversation to the Almighty.

Jesus told His disciples that their prayer life should be persistent and ongoing.
He used this parable of a persistent widow to illustrate for them.  This widow did not relent or quit until this godless judge gave her the justice she deserved.  True disciples of Christ ought to do the same thing when it comes to prayer.

Prayer Attention Deficit Disorder…
Okay, I confess, I made the above disorder up, but it does accurately describe our prayers sometimes doesn’t it?  We pray like a kitten plays with yarn…its great until something more interesting comes along.  We have so many distractions in our world today.  The sounds outside.  Our cell phones.  Checking our social media feed on various platforms.  We live in a very distracting world.  How can we even focus on concentrated prayers when we have all of this distraction around us?  We need quiet.  We must find spaces of solitude so that we can converse with God.  It doesn’t have to be long winded prayers full of “Thees” and “Thous”.  We don’t have to have all of the right things to say either.  Just take five minutes of concentrated time (with no distractions) today and pray.  Start off by praying for your needs (not wants).  Give God thanks for answered prayers.  Then focus on your immediate family…you friends…your coworkers…your boss…your neighbor…and so on.  If it helps put a timer on so that you know when to stop praying.  But commit to just five minutes of prayer each day this week.  At first it may seem very hard to focus in on five minutes.  For some of us, it might seem like an eternity.  But pray and inquire of God what you should pray for too…His Holy Presence with inform and guide you in your conversations.  It will take practice, so do not become frustrated when you don’t accomplish this discipline at first.  Keep trying.  We need more persistent prayer warriors now more than ever in our churches and in our world.   He is calling you and me to be such people of prayer!

Prayer: 
Dear Lord I pray for the issues going on in my life right now.  You know my stresses and my concerns.  You know my frustrations and my passions.  I pray that you light my path and direct my steps this day.  Help me in these conversations with you.  I live in a very distracted world and I confess I am not always readily available to talk to you because of these distractions.  I long to be more disciplined and persistent in my prayers to you.  Lead me Lord in these conversations.  Direct my thoughts and give me the passion to live for You today.   In Your name I pray all of these things.  -Amen.