Praying And Not Losing Heart (Lu. 18:1)

Read Luke 18:1.

1.  There are those who pray yet have lost heart.  They easily slip into formality, knowing better than to not pray, but don't really believe there is any point to it.

2.  There are those who have not lost heart yet do not pray.  They say they believe, yet there is little or no evidence to suggest dependence upon God.  These are optimistic but they don't pray.  When you do not take time to pray -- seriously, reverently, consistently -- you are leaving God out of the situations.

3.  There are those who pray and do not lose heart. To emphasize this dynamic is why Jesus spoke the parable recorded in Luke 18:2-8.

My Prayer (07/06/16)

Father, thank You for including in Your Holy Word the story of the once-blind Bartimaeus.  What an example of relentless faith!  Jesus, You stopped because his faith wouldn't and didn't.  Agitate me, Holy Spirit, to be persistent in my calling (praying) to Jesus and believing in Him regardless of opposition. Concerning faith and prayer, work in me to be a finisher, not a starter only.  As opposition gets louder, may my faith become bolder and stronger.

Today, I believe that, when I call out to You, You will hear my desperate tone and confident expectation.  When I call to You, I believe that You will call to me.

Thank You that I don't have to be silent about my needs.  You know them already, yet You want ME to talk with You about them.  You are never in a hurry, neither are You too busy to notice, stop and help.

Continue Earnestly in Prayer (Ac. 1:14)

" . . . continued earnestly in prayer . . ." (Ac. 1:14, Weymouth)

It is one thing to pray once.  It is one thing to pray earnestly once.  Prayer that receives what God promised is continually earnest prayer.  Keep on praying earnestly!

How desperately do you want what's been promised?  It comes no other way except by active, patient waiting and continual, earnest prayer.  Don't disengage now.  You could be so close to receiving!