On Persistence in Prayer

Verses:

Luke 18:1-8: 1 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart… there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him…

For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice…’” 

And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Psalm 27:4: One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.

James 4:8:  Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Thoughts: 

We need to be persistent in our prayer, but also honest, heartfelt, and humble, setting our eyes upon God.

God has opened the door for us to cry out to Him. We have access to God (Deu.4:7). We are able to come on our hands and knees and spill our hearts to the God of heaven who graciously calls us his children. How awesome, how merciful, how gracious this is! 

And, how often, oh reader, do you take advantage of this wonderful gift? The God of all heaven at all times is ready to lend His ear, to listen to your pleas. Come before Him. Be persistent. Daily pray to Him, look to Him, seek His face.

Sadly, rather than being persistent we often “take advantage” of prayer just when we want something or when things are hard.

But, I give you a warning: You are not unique or “holy” for praying to God just when things get hard. Read the book of Judges (really all of the Old Testament) and you will see that wicked Israel often called out to God when they were struggling, and He in His graciousness acted. 

Prayer is meant for us to cry out to the Lord and lay our hurts before him, but it is not 

ultimately about us getting what we want. God will listen to our requests, but be grateful that He does not grant everything we ask or grant things in the way we might wish. He knows all and his plan is perfect. Silence to a prayer does not mean God has not heard. It likely means “no” or “wait.”

Let us look at some of the greatest examples of prayer: the Psalms. David often cried out to the Lord. He poured out his hurts and pains, speaking, “the troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses. Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.” (Ps.25:17-18).  These words are not empty and meaningless, rather they are fraught with emotion and pain. David is speaking with honesty, tearing open his heart before the Lord. 

He is not using prayer as an outward show of pomp and glory. Do not be as the Pharisee who boasted in his prayer, thanking God that he was not like the other man (Luke 18: 9-14). Humble yourself before the Lord.

Lastly, set your eyes on God. Speak truth to yourself. Throughout the Psalms, David cries out to the Lord, but also tells himself that which is true. The troubles of his heart are enlarged, but God is “good and upright” (Ps.25:8). 

Summary: Pray, spread your burdens before the Lord with persistence and earnestness, for He does hear and He does act. Ask with a pure and humble heart. Set your eyes on God and speak truth to yourself. Seek that God’s kingdom and His will might be done. Rejoice that because of His grace and the work of His son Christ Jesus, we are able to draw near and speak directly to the living God. We need no priest but Jesus Christ, no temple but our bodies, no sacrifice but the final work of the Lamb of God. 

Ask Yourself: Am I persistent in prayer? Am I speaking truth? How do I view prayer–just as a way to get what I want or as a holy communion with the living and awful God? 

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8 August 2025