Prayer: Attitude & Perseverance

Luke 18:1-14 There are two parables in our Scripture for today, one is dealing with seeking justice from an adversary and the other seeking mercy from God. Each takes a slightly different approach, and both have very important lessons for us to notice. The first from the perspective of perseverance motivated by faith, and the second one suggests that one’s attitude plays an important part. In the case of the widow someone has done or is doing something to her that is causing her severe distress and she need to have some relief. Notice that she is taking her case to a judge who is only in the business for his own gain. Because she pesters him over an extended period of time, he grants her justice to just get rid of her. Jesus is saying, that if one is able to get their needs met through this kind of judge through persistence; how much more and sooner will a God who loves us come to your aid. The way He answers will be motivated, not to get rid of us, but in a way that meets our needs for our good. When His ultimate answer is no, it is because He knows something that we don’t and has a better plan. In the case of the second parable, it is pointless to tell God how “wonderful and deserving" we are. He knows the truth about us. Pride and arrogance really have nothing to do with race, gender or economics. All walks of life have its share. These are the kind of folks that God can do nothing to help, because they either don’t know or won’t admit how needy they really are. Humility, on the other hand, God can deal with.