A ‘parable’ is a story Jesus told to illustrate a spiritual truth.

In one of these He taught that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying:

“There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’”

Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:1-8)

It is through prayer that we communicate with God. We should come to Him simply as a little child and pour our heart out to Him. The unjust judge gave the widow her request because she kept asking. How much more will our heavenly Father answer our prayer if we have a need and persist in prayer.

The first prayer we need to make is to confess to Him our sin and ask Him to be our Saviour. In the book of Acts chapter 9, we have the conversion of Saul, who we know as Paul the apostle. He was a religious zealot who persecuted Christians. When he met Jesus, he realised how wrong he had been, and said, “Lord. What do you want me to do?” Then we find him praying.

Prayer is an evidence of our faith and dependence. The Bible tells us to ask “in faith” and to ask “according to God’s will”. We come to know God’s will as we read God’s Word, the Bible. It is a chart and compass to guide us through life.

We can ask in faith for those things that are really needed, and not for things that we do not need. Our heavenly Father delights to answer prayer, but there are conditions attached! A mother spoiled her little girl and fed her on sweets rather than nutritious foods. The child became very sick, and the doctor said, “You gave her all she wanted, not what she needed”.

Our heavenly Father loves us too much to give us all our ‘wants’, and only promises to give His children what they ‘need’.

The best proof of God’s love for us is found in these words of Jesus: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Written:  Albert Fairweather

Parables on Prayer

Acknowledgement:  Facts for Faith

Photos by:  Tom Wells