Luke – Wide Open Doors!
Our prayers to our Father are always heard. Our Father in heaven is always at work. We pray. He works. We can be sure of both of these facts of Kingdom of God thinking and living. What we do not know is what,when, where, or how God will respond. But we do know this, He will do what is best for His children. What is best for us is to grow and mature through our storms and troubles. What is best if for us to trust God and allow our faith to be built on the foundation of Jesus Christ. As James relates, 
“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”AND…
“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.” (James 1, NLT)We learn that persistence praying to God pays off with developing endurance for the journey. Never give up praying, growing, and maturing in our faith in the One and Only who will help us.
Luke 18, New Living Translation
Parable of the Persistent Widow
One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. 2 “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. 3 A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ 4 The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, 5 but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’”
6 Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. 7 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? 8 I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”
HOLY PAUSE…
Who WILL Jesus find on earth who have faith? Developing endurance?
Who will He find now who is persistent in praying for justice, for the lost to be saved and for personal maturity?
How long has it been since we asked God for wisdom, insight and understanding? Did we use it when He gave it?
Dear Heavenly Father, Lord and Savior,Thank you for help when we need it most, in your way, in your timing. Your timing is perfect. Your will is best for us who seek it. Your patience with us is incredible. The way your grow and mature our faith and endurance is not easy but exactly right for each of us who believe and follow, trust and obey. Thank you, Lord for hearing our cries for help along with our prayers of praise to You, the One and Only. Give us wisdom and help us to apply these skills for living.
In Jesus Name, Amen
Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus) 