Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’
“For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!’”
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 18:1-8)
I’ve heard some people say that when it comes to prayer, you should not keep asking God. Instead, you should ask once, then claim it as done—even if the answer hasn’t yet appeared. Rather than continuing to ask, they say, now praise God for the results.
To be honest, I don’t fully understand how prayer works. But I do believe the Lord wants to honor and bless His people who are honoring and blessing Him. I also believe that because prayer is continual conversation with God, we must keep talking to Him—however that looks for us. I do this throughout the day. I don’t just talk to Him in the morning when reading my Bible; I talk to Him while driving, serving, eating, and working. I talk to God because “His praise will ever be on my lips!”
In this passage, Jesus is clearly telling us to always pray and not give up. He says it right in verse 1: always pray, never give up. So in this instance, I should keep talking to God until the request is answered or until my heart is changed. The key is to remain in constant communion with God, just like the persistent widow. She was the squeaky wheel that would not be silenced—and she received justice.
Verse 7 speaks of God’s chosen ones who “cry out to him day and night.” They are relentless, praying without ceasing, repeatedly asking their good Father for provision. And He is a good Father who always gives good gifts to those who ask Him.
The purpose of prayer is not only to ask the Lord for things but to be in fellowship with Him—bending our will to the Father’s. Christianity is a relationship, not a religion. The curtain in the temple has been torn in two, signifying an open connection between us and God. He is no longer a distant grandfather who never visits; He has become our friend, our Lord, and our Savior. We now have access to the Father and can “approach the throne of grace boldly.”
So come to the Lord! Pray to Him. Ask, and receive justice, grace, and mercy. Be in relationship with the God who holds nothing back from those who love Him—those who are called by His name.
“O Lord God, You are good and faithful. Thank You for allowing us to find grace in our time of need. Thank You that heaven is open to Your people and we now have access to the Father! Come now, Holy Spirit—fill us with Your power and love. Make us one with You and one in fellowship with the whole world. For You are good, and Your love endures forever.” Amen.