You need prayer if you are going to grow in your Christian life.

1 – Lesson about problems (vs. 3)

The woman has a pressing problem. We often come to the Lord because of problems. When darkness is all around us we should not be dismayed. We often can’t make sense of things. This is why we should take it to the Lord. See Isaiah 50:10-11. When it is dark, don’t light your own fire. You will regret it. There is always a new day coming when there is light. We should not be defeated by our disappointments. We are to try to be better rather than bitter. See Ephesians 4:31 & Hebrews 12:15. Prayer is the key. Things often don’t happen when we want them to happen. Sometimes God delays things so that you learn to wait on the Lord. God knows what He is doing. See 1 Peter 5:6. Joseph had to spend another two years in prison when it looked like he was getting out. God brought him out at the right time.

2 – Lesson about petitions (vs. 1)

How do we go to God about our petitions? We are always to pray and not give up. What makes your prayer acceptable to God?

• Offer your prayer in faith. See Matthew 21:22 & Hebrews 11:6. You don’t come to God wavering in your faith. See James 1:5-8. You are not up and down all the time when you have faith. You will get your prayers answered when you come in faith. You increase your faith when you listen to the Word of God. See Romans 10:17.
• You come to the Lord in humility. See James 4:6. God will resist the proud. God gives grace to the humble. See Luke 18:9-14. You can’t even give to be seen. We are to be humble in how we give our money. Prayer is not getting God to come down and do your will. It is getting us to do the will of God.
• You come to the Lord in thankfulness – See Philippians 4:6. Do you ever just praise God and thank Him? It could always have been worse! It is good to live your life in a spirit of thankfulness. There is power in the name of Jesus Christ. We are to pray with thanksgiving. It is only in the name of Jesus that our prayers are answered. There is no other “gods” who we can pray to – there is no other. See John 14:6. Jesus is our High Priest. See Hebrews 7:25. Our prayers get to God because Jesus is our mediator or intercessor.

3 – Lesson about persistence (vs. 1-4)

We are not to faint. This woman kept on coming in prayer. Jesus is not teaching by comparison but rather by contrast. God is not like this judge. This unjust judge heard the persistent woman. How much more will God hear us? What are the requirements for answered prayer?

• Some of your prayers are delivered. We love to get our prayers answered and it greatly encourages us.
• Some prayers are denied. The older you get the more you thank God for those denials. We don’t always pray for the right things.
• Some answers are different. You ask for one thing but God gives you something different. Sometimes you don’t need deliverance. You just need grace.
• Sometimes they are delayed. It doesn’t happen when you want it to happen. Delays are different from denials. You are not ready yet. God knows exactly what He is doing. He might delay to teach you something. We may need to learn to trust God. If every prayer was answered immediately you wouldn’t learn to trust in God. It may also be a matter of timing. Your watch may say it is time for an answer. God’s watch is not slow. We all experience delayed prayer. There are words of encouragement. See Isaiah 30:18.

Categories: Luke