The Pressing In Prayer

And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, 'Give me justice against my adversary.' For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, 'Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.'" And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" (Luke 18:1-8)

Jesus is teaching that there will be opposition to our petitions. The unjust judge is not representative of God. God does not require us to wear Him down. Rather, the unjust judge represents the god of this world, Satan. While our petition is not to him, he is the one indifferent to the needs of the poor, not God. He is the one who seeks to block our petitions or delay the answer.

Unfortunately, because so many of our answers are delayed, Christians lose heart and waver in their faith. Jesus says plainly not to give up, that God is on our side and is answering speedily, “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" Will there be anyone still persevering in prayer or will we grow discouraged and swallow the lie that God is indifferent, that God is actually opposed to the troubles of widows and orphans and the rest of us who are often struggling to get by?

If there were no opposition, we would ask and receive, boom! It would normally be that easy, because God is so willing to answer when we ask according to His will.

And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. (1Jn 5:15)

And those of us who have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires want nothing for ourselves but what will further the kingdom.

Jesus said, all things that the Father has are mine and He (the Holy Spirit) will take what is mine and show it to you (John 16:14-15, so we can know how to pray). Remember, we are joint heirs with Jesus, (Romans 8:16-17) so if all that the Father has is His, then all that the Father has is also ours (in Him, when we ask in His name, with His mind).

Considering that, it becomes all a matter of timing and protocol. In the Royal court of heaven there is a ton of protocol, which is not burdensome once we learn it. Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise. That is not burdensome. Then, soaking in worship tunes our hearts to the exact frequency of heaven. We become easily moved by the Spirit, aware of what the Father is doing, as Jesus was.

Jesus knew when to ask, how to ask. He knew when to walk by and when to stop and minister to the forlorn. For Him it was not difficult, something He had to work up. And when we move in faith, when we understand the willingness of God to answer, and the boogering work of Satan to block our prayers, we will press and press until we wear his little pointed butt into the dust where it belongs. WMS