Devotionals for the Heart: Why we should never stop praying to God

God Rewards Relentless Prayers
A devotional by Kerry Sue Teravskis

And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, “Grant me justice against my adversary.”—Luke 18:3 NIV

“I just can’t do this anymore. I am tired. I am done. I quit.”

Have you ever uttered these words? Or been the listener to them? When life gets hard, we want to give up—on our marriage, our pain, our financial duress. Fighting is so much harder than walking away, it seems. However, there are times when true grit is longed for, required and rewarded.

Are you in a situation where the tough has got going so long ago that the distant past seems, well, quite distant? Perhaps what started out as a passing affliction or momentary trouble has taken over, consumed your life, pocketbook, and emotional tank. Have you more than once wanted to throw in the towel, or have already quit?

Jesus Christ shared a parable in the Bible to give us His desire (and reason) for prayer. In Luke 18:1 (NIV), Jesus tells us to “always pray and not give up”. He knows perseverance and persistence in prayer is not only vital but powerful for our faith walk with God. Are you asking how this is possible? Let me explain with some questions for you to ponder: Do our prayers change God’s mind? Do our prayers change our circumstances from what God has intended all along? What does sovereignty of God mean for us in modern times?

These are tough questions that may not be answered in our lifetime. But we can know from Scripture that Jesus is concerned about our prayer life. He knew in Bible times and this modern era that we would want to give up. He knew life would get hard and doubts would plague our minds or shake our faith in Him. Jesus knew we would face obstacles that appear larger than life. He knew a doctor’s office, the unemployment line, the courtroom and an empty holiday table would be part of life here on earth.

Jesus knew the true enemy (Satan) would be relentless in pursuing us with dashed hopes, unfinished business, broken relationships, mortgages and car payments. God is Sovereign, He knows all. And He wants us to know He is with us through it all. God promises to always answer us when we call on Him—even when we offer Him our relentless, wild and desperate prayers. He welcomes us into His Throne Room and He wants to help us. Hebrews 4:16 (NIV) says, “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

This is the definition of a real walk with a loving Heavenly Father. Only God can handle the big prayers we send up to Him. Only God can handle it and truly comfort us when we lose it, mourn, and cry out in agony. Only God can wipe away the never-ending tears that emerge from experiencing a sad, life-changing event.

What are you facing or contemplating today? What situation has you fretting and feeling like giving up? What is God saying to encourage you to keep pressing on? We all have problems and situations that we have spent a long time—days, months, years—praying for, asking God to intervene. Let us not grow weary in praying.

We are given permission by Jesus to pursue Him relentlessly, all day, every day with our requests. Big or small. Long or short. As you read Luke 18, you can see His compassion and desire. His love. His care.

Let us knock and keep on knocking at God’s door and coming boldly before His Throne with our requests. May we not stop petitioning our Savior until we receive justice, answers and a blessing from Him.

Let’s Pray: Father God, sometimes the fact that our prayers can change your mind seems impossible to believe. We may fear that we will wear You out with our relentless pursuit of You as we ask for your justice, mercy, healing, and answers to our life problems. But You literally are all we’ve got when we have nothing left to give, take, follow or hold onto—except You. This is everything. You are everything we need. You are enough! I lay myself at Your feet, exhausted, but in a posture of prayer, thanksgiving and worship. Thank You for hearing me, Lord. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “Don’t Stop Praying” by Matthew West. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “Everything” by Lauren Daigle. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: "Pray On" by Babbie Mason. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

As a wife and Marmee to three adult children and one brand new daughter-in-love, Kerry Sue’s life is very full. She met her husband in college and served in the mission field with him for a few years before settling down back in the United States of America to raise their family. 

Kerry Sue’s family was a homeschooling family for 20 years and they enjoyed it immensely. For the last 23 years they have lived on a small farm in Northern California where they have raised many farm animals, along with growing and preserving their food. Kerry Sue’s family farm has been a great source of enjoyment and a place to host many family gatherings. She maintains an open-door policy for dear friends—old and new.

Following and serving Jesus Christ is an integral part of Kerry Sue’s life as well as her family’s. Whether it’s singing in our church choir, teaching children or leading and lecturing at a women’s Bible study, Kerry Sue loves to demonstrate her love for Jesus by giving to Him in service. She’s been a blogger for more than eight years, a Bible study writer for two years, and a devotional writer for about one year.

Kerry Sue writes about finding God’s Sovereignty in our pain and suffering.

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Connect with Kerry:
Blog: https://www.sovereignblog.com/home
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kerry.teravskis
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ksteravskis/