Praying and Not Losing Heart

"And he told them a parable, to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart." Luke 18:1

We have Jesus' words to his disciples about praying. They were always to consider prayer an option. Even in the worst of conditions they were to pray.

Think of situations where you might lose heart.

1. You have been praying a long time and are growing weary.
2. You believe the situation is not within God's realm of working.
3. You believe there is too great of an obstacle for an answer to your situation.
4. You don't know if you are using the right words.
5. You don't feel worthy to receive an answer.

Maybe you could name some other reasons for losing heart.

Jesus went on after these words to tell his disciples a parable about a widow coming before a judge to seek vindication. It was her persistence that won the day for her. We ought to have the same attitude in prayer. We are to continue praying for what we so fervently desire. It just might make a big difference, more than what we anticipated.