The Just Shall Live By Faith...
Luke 18:1 says: "And He spoke a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint".
Have you ever felt like you don't have enough energy to utter one more word to anyone? Like you cannot even climb the stairs after you arrive home? Like you cannot even pray in the midst of a battle and can only sit back and obey the scriptures to "wait on the Lord" until it all goes away?
Or maybe you've been asking for the same thing over and over again, and you feel like you have exhausted all efforts for the Lord to hear.
Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12:10 - "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, THEN AM I STRONG."
Jesus gives us a picture of how He wants us to pray in Luke 18. The persistent widow wears down the judge with her constant request until he finally gives in. God wants us to come to Him with EVERYTHING. He has given us an open door to approach His throne with confidence at all times (Hebrews 4:16).
If the uncaring judge finally responded to the widow's constant pleas, how much more will the God that created us and loves us enough to give us His only Son to die for our sins, respond to our prayers requests, in due time?
The scriptures state in Philippians 4:6-8, (KJV) "Be CAREFUL FOR NOTHING by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which PASSETH ALL UNDERSTANDING, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
This is one of the anchor scriptures of our faith. It tells us so much about how we ought to approach the matters of greatest concern to us, that we place before the Lord. It tells us that after we have prayed and told God what we need Him to do, and after we have continued praying and seeking answers from Him, and after we have then thanked God (which means we believe by faith that our prayers have been answered), we should then wait patiently for Him to answer, trusting and knowing that He will answer.
It is only after this that we are given the PEACE THAT PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING and we will cease to worry any further.
This implies that we are at the place to trust God 100% for all our needs and for all the answers to all our prayers. It implies an unwavering belief that God will do precisely what we have asked Him to do without fail. It implies that we fully understand who our God is, and that the scriptures are a true reflection of His intent towards His people. He will not forsake us and we should continue in prayer earnestly until He provides the answers we need from Him.
In the end, God will answer all our prayers, according to His word and according to His will. We need only patiently wait on Him believing that He is true to His word.
A prayer: "Father, sometimes we feel like a lifetime has gone by before our prayers are answered, and are prone to forget the force with which Your word has been give to us.
Lord, You have stated in Isaiah 55:11: “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”
Increase my faith Lord that I learn to unfailingly trust You through your word for all my needs despite what my eyes see. For the Just shall live by FAITH and NOT BY SIGHT.
Thank you Father, thank you Lord.
Amen."
