Pray, Don't Faint

Luke 18:1  And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

Do you recall what happened in Gethsemane when Jesus was praying? The disciples dropped off into snore mode. Jesus tasked them with watching and praying in that difficult hour. Instead they were languishing in la-la land.

His rebuke to them included the adage, "the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak."

Indeed, the flesh never wants to pray. Play? yes, pray? no. Sleep? sure, supplicate? not really.

Prayer is a real battle. Honestly, a sweet hour of prayer is as rare as an Edsel in operating condition. I think most Christians would opt for a tooth extraction over a season of prayer.

We are invited to come boldly before the throne of grace to find grace and help in time of need, but we generally refuse that invite with a shrug of the shoulders and a "No thanks, I got this."

But, here's the deal, Prayer changes things! It changes the heart of the one doing the praying and it moves heaven with its passion, sincerity and regularity. As well, after bathing a matter in prayer, that issue will never be the same. Whether God answers with a “yes,” “no” or “wait,” the matter is guaranteed to change.

In this passage, Jesus, our prayer-mediating High Priest, assures us that prayers spoken by faith which bombard heaven incessantly will be speedily answered.

So, what is the important matter you have wished to bring to God, but which your flesh rebels against? What is the need which has been borne half-heartedly a time or two on prayer wings yet is still unresolved?

Hearken to the words of Jesus when He instructs us to always pray and not faint.

Pray early, pray often, pray in faith, pray in Jesus' name, pray in agreement with another saint, pray according to God's will and you will receive a positive answer from the throne.