The Prerequisite of Humility Matt. 15:21-28
When you pray for a specific issue, if you don’t see an immediate response what do you do?
Jesus initially ignored the Canaanite woman’s cries for help. She kept crying out and was even so bold as to kneel in front of Him and address Him. What do you think was Jesus’ motive for His responses to her? How would her life and the life of her daughter been different if she were not persistent?
The Requirement of Determination Luke 18:1-5
Verse 1 tells us that Jesus told this parable on the need for them (his followers) to pray always and not become discouraged. We each understand how easy it is to become discouraged when prayer is not answered right away. What are advantages and lessons learned when we wait on God to answer our prayers?
When our prayer is not answered immediately then we should include in that continued prayer a request that God’s desire would be our hearts desire. When we pray for a heart after God we may find that our request is not what God wants for us or we may be led to continue praying a wait on God’s timing for the answer. Regardless of the outcome of the prayer itself when we seek God’s heart in our prayers we will grow our love relationship with Him.
The Fulfillment of Expectation Luke 18:6-8
In these verses Jesus contrasts the judge and God. Describe the character of the judge. Describe the character of God.
God is faithful. Even when our prayers go unanswered or when God’s answers are delayed, we should keep on praying and leave the answers and timing in God’s hands. We can trust Him to care for us.
What do you do when your prayer goes unanswered or the answer is delayed? When do you find it most difficult to be patient as you pray?
Jesus then poses a question to us. God is faithful to His children but will He see that same faith on earth when the Son of Man returns for us?
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