Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2001

Subject: Never Give Up!

Good Morning Ethan & Emily:

How often and how long should we pray for a matter of concern to us?

I can best answer this with scripture itself.  From Luke 18: 1 – 8…

“One day Jesus told His disciples a story to illustrate their need for constant prayer and to show them that they must never give up.  ‘There was a judge in a certain city,’ He said, ‘ who was a godless man with great contempt for everyone.  A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, appealing for justice against someone who had harmed her.  The judge ignored her for a while, but eventually she wore him out…’ I’m going to see that she get justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests! ‘

Then the Lord said, ‘Learn a lesson from this evil judge.  Even he rendered a just decision in the end, so don’t you think God will surely give justice to His chosen people who plead with Him day and night?  Will He keep putting them off?  I tell you, He will grant justice to them quickly!  But when I, the Son of Man, return, how many will I find who have faith?’ “

God always knows what is best for us.  Delayed answered to prayer may be due to the fact God has something better to give us…or that the timing is not right yet.   Perhaps God is working to affect a change in us before the next step…

But in any case….THERE IS NEVER A TIME THAT GOD IS NOT AT WORK IN OUR LIVES!  We are asked…we are commanded to make our requests known to Him and let Him work out the rest!   And…while we are waiting for “answers,” we get God’s peace!  What a deal…and perhaps that IS the answer we most need:

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.  Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.  If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4: 6 – 7

Experience and enjoy the peace God provides….

All my love,

Dad