Recently, my Godmother told me when I pray I should only pray once about a situation. That is, ask God something once and trust that He will do it. She said I should not ask Him again if I’ve prayed in faith.
Being a person who keeps praying until I get an answer, I have to admit I felt a bit guilty.
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Was I not trusting God when I prayed for the same thing over and over again?
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Was I doubting God by doing this?
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Where was my faith? I asked myself.
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Was I bothering God by repeatedly bringing the same requests before Him?
This morning while praying for salvation for some individuals that I pray for every day and sometimes throughout the day I was reminded of the statement my Godmother made.
When I finished praying for the people, I said to God, ‘you know, God, Godmother told me this and I’ve heard from others that I should only pray once about something and trust that You will do it. She said I should not ask You again if I was truly praying in faith.’ I asked God to please tell me if that was true. ‘Should I only pray once and never ask You again?’
Immediately, the widow that went before the judge flashed in my mind.
Why didn’t I think of that? That’s one of my favorite passages from the scriptures!
“And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” ~ Luke 18:1-8
What was Jesus saying in the parable of the persistent widow that went before the unjust judge? Let’s break it down.
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Jesus said, that we should always pray, and not give up.
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He said a widow went before a judge that did not fear God or respect people or care about what anyone thought. The Message Bible says he “never gave God a thought and cared nothing for people”.
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The widow told the mean judge her rights were being violated and kept asking him to give her legal protection and justice against her enemy.
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She kept asking him for justice over and over again, but the judge kept saying no over and over again.
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Because the widow continued bothering him and asking him the same thing over and over again, the uncaring judge gave in.
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The widow wore the judge out and received exactly what she asked for – justice and legal protection.
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Then Jesus instructed us to listen to what the corrupt judge said.
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Jesus said, God too will provide us, His children, justice when we pray to Him throughout the day and night. God WILL answer our persistent prayers.
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He said God will defend us and give us justice quickly.
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Jesus then asked a question, when He returns, will He find that kind of persistent faith on the earth?
Stop right here and answer Jesus.
Will you be so diligent, consistent, and persistent in your faith as the widow woman was when she sought justice and legal protection?
When my Godmother spoke those words to me, I hadn’t been studying the Word being preoccupied with things that were going on in my life.
I want to remind you, me, and every other child of the living God, that we absolutely must daily stay in the Word of God and prayer. Had I stayed in the Word as I ought, I would have remembered the scripture that He so gently gave me.
I got caught off guard by her statement, and almost believed it until I took it to God in prayer – and in His loving way, HE ANSWERED ME! All Glory to God!
Bible Verses On Being Persistent In Prayer
These are some scriptures on being persistent in prayer that came to me after God revealed this to me:
“And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.” ~ Luke 6:12
“And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;” ~ Luke 18:1
“These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.” ~ Acts 1:14
“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” ~ Acts 2:42
“But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.” ~ Acts 6:4
“Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;” ~ Romans 12:12
“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” ~ Ephesians 6:18
“Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;” ~ Colossians 4:2
“Pray without ceasing.” ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:17
“Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.” ~ 1 Timothy 5:5
The moral of this story is, yes, we can continually cry out to God and be persistent when praying for someone or about anything – big or small. God loves us and GOD WILL ANSWER OUR PRAYERS!
Again, be sure to stay in the Word! Do not allow someone, something, or anything come to you with such a word as I received without you then looking it up. As the Bible states, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge …” (Hosea 4:6).
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God …” ~ 1 John 4:1-6
P.S. For the curious, I still love my Godmother, and I will be sharing with her what the Lord showed me concerning this.
