Luke 18:1-8. Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’
4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”
6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
Prayer is a spiritual science. What constantly occupies your thoughts—your conscious mind, subconscious mind, and soul—eventually becomes reality. What is stored within you becomes your prayer.
Irrational thinking leads to an irrational life. As long as you remain trapped in an old framework of thinking, you cannot expect anything new in life. The framework of your thinking shapes your conscious mind, and over time it settles into your subconscious. What accumulates in the subconscious will eventually surface through your attitudes, words, and actions.
If your heart is filled with anxiety, confusion will inevitably follow. But if your heart is filled with faith and hope, your future will unfold accordingly. Most importantly, what is stored in your spirit and soul determines everything that takes place in your conscious and subconscious mind. That is why Scripture urges us to fill our inner being with the Word of God:
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
Religious people often see temporary “answers” to prayer by tapping into the subconscious mind. But afterward, spiritual problems inevitably follow. Little do they realize that evil spirits work powerfully behind the scenes (Exodus 20:4–5; 1 Corinthians 10:20).
Success without knowing God leads to unavoidable consequences. Without the gospel, the more successful a person becomes, the more severe spiritual problems arise. Why? Because God created humanity as spiritual beings—there is no true happiness or rest apart from God.
Therefore, we must continually realize, enjoy, and confirm the gospel in our lives. When the gospel becomes our reality, we will not grow discouraged in prayer. In today’s passage, our Lord Jesus teaches us five essential elements of prayer.
First, we must know who our Father is when we pray. He is the One who brings justice for His chosen ones (Luke 18:7). He determines the future of our lives. Nothing is too hard for Him, and no request is beyond His power. He is the God who promised His own power to us (Acts 1:8).
Second, we must know who we are. We are His chosen ones. We have been given the right to receive answers to our prayers and the privilege of approaching His throne anytime and anywhere (Hebrews 4:16). In the name of Jesus, we stand on God’s authority, call upon the heavenly power, and demolish the strongholds of the enemy.
Third, prayer requires faith. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. We must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). Jesus Himself lamented the lack of faith when He asked, “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8).
When prayer is filled with faith, it becomes the joy of life itself, and life becomes a prayer. But when unbelief fills the heart, everything becomes an obstacle to prayer. Scripture reminds us, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” (Romans 4:9).
Fourth, prayer must be accompanied by a burning desire aligned with God’s heart. When we understand our Father’s desire for the world, we will begin to see answers. God is pleased with prayers rooted in His covenant, as revealed in His Word.
David lived with such desire when he said, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under a tent” (1 Chronicles 17:1). He understood that restoring God’s presence among His people was the absolute priority. God answered David’s prayer with eternal blessings (1 Chronicles 17:4–14).
The widow in today’s passage also prayed with burning desire. Her determination for justice overcame every obstacle, including an unjust judge who neither feared God nor cared about people.
May God open our eyes to see the true condition of the world. May our hearts burn with His desire for the nations. Let us respond to His urgent call to proclaim the gospel to all peoples. To this end, let us hold firmly to the covenant of only Christ, only the kingdom of God, and only the Holy Spirit, and let this covenant become our only prayer (Acts 1:1-14).
Our Father is the One who made the earth, formed it, and established it (Jeremiah 33:2). He is not like the heartless judge. When you pray, He listens attentively like a loving Father:
“Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!” (Psalm 116:2).
When you face hardship or suffering for the sake of the gospel, do not lose heart. Continue to bring your case before God, the righteous Judge, and He will see that justice is done. Give all your worries to your Father. Turn every problem into prayer (Philippians 4:6-7).
Prayer. Father, teach me to pray as Your child, not as one who doubts Your heart. Help me overcome unbelief and fill my spirit with faith, hope, and trust in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.