BE PERSISTENT IN PRAYER
(Ex 17:8-13, Palm 121, 2 Timothy 3:14-4:2, Luke 18:1-8)
My dear people of God, today the readings draw our attention to the theme of prayer. You and I also know that we cannot survive as Christians if we have a weak prayer life. We are called to develop an intimate relationship with Jesus, and this can only be achieved through consistent prayer life. But more importantly, we are called not to give up easily in our prayer life when we are seeking something from the Lord. We must be persistent in prayer and pray without ceasing. Lack of patience sometimes makes us to think that some problems or requests are beyond God. Hence, we give up and sometimes resort to other sources of power, which lead us astray from our faith.
In the first reading, the people of Israel went to war against Amalek, the chief of an Idumean tribe. Joshua led the Israelites’ army against their enemy, whiles Moses held the rod of God on top of a hill. He was supported by Aaron and Hur. As long as the rod of God was raised high, Israel prevailed. But when it was lowered their enemies prevailed. This act is very symbolic so far as prayer is concerned. The implication is that, as long as Moses and the others intensified their prayer, the Israelites prevailed, but when they relaxed the opponent were overpowering them. Consistency in prayer is very important. We don’t need to give up in prayer. The Israelites defeated Amalek because they didn’t give up with their supplications to God. A mountain top or a hill top biblically symbolizes a dwelling place of God and for that matter a place of prayer. Moses and the others were there to intercede for their army. Their only hope was in God, and truly God didn’t disappoint them. Be steadfast in prayer and you will see results.
The gospel reading continues to deepen the theme of consistency in prayer. The widow’s petition was heard by the unrighteous judge because of her persistence. She never gave up with her request to the judge. The widow kept on going to the judge to solicit for his help. Her act of persistence paid off. So, if the unrighteous judge acted on the widow’s behalf, how much more God, who is our creator? God will surely listen to our prayers according to His will. This is the assurance that Jesus gives us in the gospel passage.
The psalm is right when it says and I quote “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From whence does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved, he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep………” Ps 121: 1-4. God will never and can never disappoint us.
Sometimes, some of us give up so easily in life when we think God is not answering our prayers. My dear friend, in the eyes of God a thousand years is just like one day. For Him it does not matter the duration of waiting, because He does things beautifully at His own time. The hand of God is not too short to save us from our difficulties in life. Sarah who had passed her stage of giving birth was able to conceive a son, according to the power of God. “Is anything too hard for the Lord to do? At the appointed time, about this time next year, I will return to you, and Sarah will have a son” Gen 18:14. The same can be said of Hannah (1 Sam 1-2), and Elizabeth (Luke 1:5-25). Don’t forget of the woman who suffered from hemorrhage for twelve (12) good years (Mk 5:25-34). She had sold all her belongings to save herself but to no avail. Just look at the period that she had to endure this shameless sickness. Our sisters and mothers who have experienced bleeding before would be in the best position to explain this situation. This woman did not give up but persevered in prayer. One day as she encountered Jesus, her miracle happened. At the appointed time, Jesus put smiles on her face. This is what God is also going to do for you in your situation, which you think has taking so long. It is a matter of time; delay is not denial okay. We can also take a clue from the crippled man who had suffered for this condition for 38 years (John 5: 1-18). My dear friends in Christ, I am talking about 38 good years and not 5 years or whatever. This man did not even contemplate suicide, so why are you already complaining when you have only experienced this difficulty for only one year, two years and so forth? It is a matter of time, just wait on the Lord patiently. It pays to be patient. There is a reason why God is delaying the whole process. Seek out this will of God for you and you shall be consoled, whiles you wait for Him to act in your favour.
Another lesson from the readings I want us to learn has to do with the fact that we have to be prayerful Christians. There is a saying that “A prayerful Christian is a powerful Christian, whiles a prayerless Christian is a powerless Christian”. We have no weapon to thwart the efforts of the enemy apart from our prayers. We have no option than to be prayerful as Christians. We need to pray without ceasing because Jesus has given us an example to follow. We can only have a strong foundation in Christ if we develop a strong prayer life. But the truth is that we are so weak in prayer. Some of us have a shattered prayer life. We have lost the touch with Jesus, hence the weak will to persevere in our prayer life. We have time for other things in life but not to pray. No wonder we easily resort to other places when we are in difficulty. Some of the situations we find ourselves we can pray ourselves for something to happen. We need the strength to carry on and endure in prayer. And we can only achieve this if we are much in touch with the Lord through constant prayer. Let us revive our prayer life today. And so, I ask you have you prayed today?
Jesus was an example of a person of prayer, no wonder the disciples went to Him to teach them how to pray. He inspired them with His prayer life. As people of faith, we need to be shining examples to others with our prayer life. We need to inspire others to pray and grow more in communion with God. We are good at other things but not about prayer. Some of us even discourage others to pray. We do not encourage people to be persistent but rather discourage them. In fact, some of us are very pessimists, who do not see anything positive about any situation. Please we need to change from this bad behaviour. If you cannot encourage then do not discourage; this is the work of the devil who make people to think that things are not possible. But we serve a God of possibility. Is there anything too hard for the Lord? Not at all!
Ask till it is given, seek till you find and knock till the door is opened. Never give up in your prayer life because your moment of salvation is near at hand. The moment you want to give up mostly is the time God want to make a miracle happen. God normally answers all prayers basically in three ways. First, He may grant your request, secondly, He may ask you to wait and finally He may tell you that what you are asking is not good for you. We need to seek out what response the Lord has given to our prayer. May God grant us the strength never to give up in our prayer life. AMEN.
BE A PRAYERFUL PERSON. PRAY TILL SOMETHING HAPPEN. TEACH SOMEONE TO PRAY TODAY. HAVE A BLESSED SUNDAY AND A FAVORED WEEK AHEAD!
REV. FR. AKAKPO MATTHEW
