“Pray and do not lose heart.” Luke 18:1
This was the directive Jesus gave to His disciples as they could not fully comprehend our Lord’s teaching concerning the Parousia (His second coming – Luke 17:22-37). Pray and do not lose heart. Following this unique call to prayer, Jesus told a parable of persistent entreaty (18:1-7) – the parable of the widow, to urge continual relentless prayer.
Consider both the deep necessity and sheer simplicity of Jesus’ directive. There are varied and reliable translations of this timeless appeal from our Savior:
Jesus told His disciples that they should
“pray and not lose heart” (New American Standard),
“pray and not give up” (New International Version),
“pray and not faint” (King James),
“pray and not become discouraged” (Holman Christian Standard),
“pray and never lose hope” (International Children’s Bible),
“pray and never stop or lose hope” (The Passion Translation),
“pray ever and not to fail” (Wycliff),
“pray consistently and never quit” (The Message).
The Jewish culture of Jesus’ day understood and practiced fixed times of prayer. But Jesus countered the rigor of organized public displays of prayer with instruction for urgency because of the difficult times to come. Jesus also directed His disciples with consistency in prayer even when such petitions seemed not to be immediately answered. Through support of parabolic teaching, Jesus encouraged persistence. He in no way suggested a hardened and disrespectful approach to God’s throne of grace. His call was rather to a loving, faith-driven, and relentless act of dependence noted through regularly coming before God in a spirit of worship to pray.
Samuel once said, “far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you” (I Samuel 12:23). Samuel instructed God’s people to turn from their wickedness and to the Lord. But Samuel had something to own as well. He laid his rebuke for the people alongside His own responsibility to pray for them. In this way, not interceding was for him sin. And the same applies to you and me. We must pray. God’s heart and the teachings of Jesus call us to consistent and persistent prayer. But why do we not pray? Why do we not resolve as Samuel, “for me not to pray would be sin”?
Here are a few practical reasons we do not pray. (Some of the following thoughts reference an article by Ed Gungor, Relevant Magazine, 2009). First, we do not pray because we have not prayed. Have you ever had someone call you once or twice, leaving you a voice mail and asking you to call them? Then, you see this person several days later and feel a bit embarrassed that you have not returned the call. Your first thought is likely avoidance. This is why many do not pray. They have not prayed, and the approach seems awkward and difficult. Second, we do not pray because somewhere in our spiritual journey there has developed the fallacious thought that the individual makes the connection of prayer occur. At times, prayer is interpreted as the person trying to get God’s attention. But rather the opposite is true. The call to prayer is an invitation from God who desires your attention. The Bible describes God as desiring communion with His people. In this way, prayer should be easy because we are simply answering a loving invitation. Even when God seems silent, He is still there and desires that you come to Him in prayer. A third reason we do not pray is because we do not know where to begin. I say, begin with the Scriptures. Find a Bible verse, one you have heard from the teachings of another or from something you have read and form the verse into a prayer. This contemplative approach builds a deeper understanding of God and a more purposeful approach to prayer.
[I remember many, many years ago when I struggled with consistent prayer. Jeremiah 33:3 was the single verse that gave me a place to start each time I attempted to enter into prayer. My words simply copied the Scriptural text: “God, I don’t know where to begin, but you said in your Word, if I call on You, You will answer me and show me great things I do not know. Lord, I am calling.” This short and simple prayer soon became a regular part of life, and that lifestyle of prayer continues to grow and develop today.]
You have a place to begin in prayer: God’s truth, the Bible.
These three reasons we do not pray represent many practical hindrances to our prayer. Do not allow these obstacles to stand in the way. God is waiting on you with grace and mercy. Prayer should not be awkward simply because you haven’t prayed in a while. He has given you the invitation. He lovingly asks that you call on Him. And, you definitely know how to begin: praying His Truth.
So today, do not simply hear a call to prayer and consider a routine, ceremony, or a religious discipline. When called to pray, be reminded that our lives as followers of Jesus should be built on prayer – a consistent, persistent, worshipful approach to our Abba Father every day, and every minute of the day. Prayer is the ongoing conversation of love. Live in that conversation. And, when called to pray specifically, you will not feel awkward, intimidated, nor ill-equipped. You will hear the call and know that your ongoing relationship with Jesus daily raises you up to intercede.
Pray and do not give up. And be amazed at what God will do!
Blessings.
