Advent Devotional 2021
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Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust 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 cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?” Luke 18:6-7 (NLT)
I have been praying the same prayer for over twenty years. It has yet to be answered.
In the past, I wondered if God was tired of me asking for the same thing over and over again. Obviously, He has chosen not to answer the way I want Him to answer. Right? If he were human, he would tell me to give it rest.
But, the Parable of the Persistent Widow teaches us that God is okay with my persistent request. “One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up (18:1).”
The widow was so persistent that the unjust judge gave her justice just so she’d go away and stop yammering at him.
God is our Heavenly Dad who loves us. The judge said the widow “is driving me crazy!” He sure didn’t love her. Isn’t our Heavenly Dad going to do better for us than a corrupt judge who doesn’t “fear God or care about people?”
Jesus said, “But when the Son of Man (Jesus) returns, how many will he find on Earth who have faith?” (18:8)
I don’t know why God hasn’t answered my prayer yet. Maybe in His infinite wisdom, He knows the perfect time has not yet come. But, for now, I need to have tenacity and faithfulness. Jesus Himself taught that we “should always pray and never give up.” (18:1)
Do you have a prayer for which you need to have the faith to keep on praying? Ask God for the faith you need. And keep on praying. Heavenly Dad wants to hear from you. He chose you. He cherishes your “yammering” and wants you to keep it coming.
Kari S.
In the past, I wondered if God was tired of me asking for the same thing over and over again. Obviously, He has chosen not to answer the way I want Him to answer. Right? If he were human, he would tell me to give it rest.
But, the Parable of the Persistent Widow teaches us that God is okay with my persistent request. “One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up (18:1).”
The widow was so persistent that the unjust judge gave her justice just so she’d go away and stop yammering at him.
God is our Heavenly Dad who loves us. The judge said the widow “is driving me crazy!” He sure didn’t love her. Isn’t our Heavenly Dad going to do better for us than a corrupt judge who doesn’t “fear God or care about people?”
Jesus said, “But when the Son of Man (Jesus) returns, how many will he find on Earth who have faith?” (18:8)
I don’t know why God hasn’t answered my prayer yet. Maybe in His infinite wisdom, He knows the perfect time has not yet come. But, for now, I need to have tenacity and faithfulness. Jesus Himself taught that we “should always pray and never give up.” (18:1)
Do you have a prayer for which you need to have the faith to keep on praying? Ask God for the faith you need. And keep on praying. Heavenly Dad wants to hear from you. He chose you. He cherishes your “yammering” and wants you to keep it coming.
Kari S.
Prayer focus: Bring God the impossible prayer requests in your life right now, ask God for guidance around that important request
Community prayer focus: Families that are served by Food Initiative of Greater Stanislaus (the food bank that receives Centenary’s monthly donations)
Community prayer focus: Families that are served by Food Initiative of Greater Stanislaus (the food bank that receives Centenary’s monthly donations)
Hymn: Love Came Down at Christmas
Love came down at Christmas,
love all lovely, Love divine;
Love was born at Christmas;
star and angels gave the sign.
Worship we the Godhead,
Love incarnate, Love divine;
worship we our Jesus,
but wherewith for sacred sign?
Love shall be our token;
love be yours and love be mine;
love to God and others,
love for plea and gift and sign.
Author: Christina Georgina Rossetti (1885)
Love came down at Christmas,
love all lovely, Love divine;
Love was born at Christmas;
star and angels gave the sign.
Worship we the Godhead,
Love incarnate, Love divine;
worship we our Jesus,
but wherewith for sacred sign?
Love shall be our token;
love be yours and love be mine;
love to God and others,
love for plea and gift and sign.
Author: Christina Georgina Rossetti (1885)
