Dear Daily Message Readers,
READ: Luke 18:1-8
Luke 18:1 (NASB) "Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ught to pray and not to lose heart."
Are you dealing with any type of delay today in your life? Perhaps there is something you have been praying and hoping would happen but now it seems farther away than ever. If you are like most people, you hate to wait anytime, especially when you are headed toward a goal you believe the Lord has given you to accomplish. It is easy to ask Him, "Why the obstacles and setbacks, Lord? And it may seem that our prayers are not being heard.
Writing on the apparent delay in our prayer requests, devotional writer Oswald Chambers framed it this way:
"If you are right with God and God delays the answer to your prayer, don't misjudge Him. Don't think of Him as an unkind friend, or an unnatural father, or an unjust judge, but keep at it. Your prayer will certainly be answered, for 'everyone who asks receives.' Pray and do not cave in. Your heavenly Father will explain it all one day. He cannot just yet because He is developing your character. 'Forget the character,' you say. 'I want Him to grant my request.' And He says, 'What I am doing far exceeds what you can see or know. Trust Me.' "
In Luke 18, Jesus presented an example of persistence in prayer. The woman in the parable was determined to get her petition heard. Of course, we pray to a righteous, just God; however, the focus of that parable is the prayer, not the pray-ee. Yet, in our own spiritual lives, when we have that woman's determination and persistence in prayer, nothing will slow us down. Though God may delay answering our request to give us something better or to protect us, He will bless our faithfulness in the matter.
If your life seems like it is on hold today, don't give up on God. The Lord often uses these times to prepare us to accomplish His purpose. Faith Lesson: There is no doubt: What we consider bad timing, God considers perfect timing.
In Christ,
Darin Smith
READ: Luke 18:1-8
Luke 18:1 (NASB) "Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ught to pray and not to lose heart."
Are you dealing with any type of delay today in your life? Perhaps there is something you have been praying and hoping would happen but now it seems farther away than ever. If you are like most people, you hate to wait anytime, especially when you are headed toward a goal you believe the Lord has given you to accomplish. It is easy to ask Him, "Why the obstacles and setbacks, Lord? And it may seem that our prayers are not being heard.
Writing on the apparent delay in our prayer requests, devotional writer Oswald Chambers framed it this way:
"If you are right with God and God delays the answer to your prayer, don't misjudge Him. Don't think of Him as an unkind friend, or an unnatural father, or an unjust judge, but keep at it. Your prayer will certainly be answered, for 'everyone who asks receives.' Pray and do not cave in. Your heavenly Father will explain it all one day. He cannot just yet because He is developing your character. 'Forget the character,' you say. 'I want Him to grant my request.' And He says, 'What I am doing far exceeds what you can see or know. Trust Me.' "
In Luke 18, Jesus presented an example of persistence in prayer. The woman in the parable was determined to get her petition heard. Of course, we pray to a righteous, just God; however, the focus of that parable is the prayer, not the pray-ee. Yet, in our own spiritual lives, when we have that woman's determination and persistence in prayer, nothing will slow us down. Though God may delay answering our request to give us something better or to protect us, He will bless our faithfulness in the matter.
If your life seems like it is on hold today, don't give up on God. The Lord often uses these times to prepare us to accomplish His purpose. Faith Lesson: There is no doubt: What we consider bad timing, God considers perfect timing.
In Christ,
Darin Smith
