Today : Never Give Up
TODAY’S VERSE
“One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.” Luke 18:1 (NLT)
TODAY’S THOUGHT
Have you ever had your back against the wall? There was a period in my life when I thought I would never get out of the horrible situation I was in. Emotionally, I was a mess. Financially, it was much worst. We had lost everything and I could not find a job that paid what I needed. I had a wife and three boys and it was everything I could do to put one foot in front of the other. But there was God. I prayed. And I waited. And I would cry, then pray again. How often over a multiple year process did I read today’s passage? So I prayed and fought the feeling to give up over and over again. I read where Jesus said to, “Knock and keep knocking, ask and keep asking, seek and keep seeking.” So I would pray some more. Meanwhile, life went on; some days better than others. But one thing I knew, God had not forsaken me. His love was sufficient even in the worst of the times. God never promised me wealth, a sublime life, but He did promise He would never leave me. I kept thinking of His life, walking from town to town, no where to lay His head, all the way to the cross. And He did it so I could pray to Him. He did it for you, too. I know many who are reading this are going through horrible struggles, perplexed and hurting. Today know this. Jesus was very specific in the stories He told. He was purposeful because He wanted us to know this one thing, pray and never give up.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Jesus, it is so hard some times. I just want to give up, but You are here and You had commanded me to pray and never give up. So, Lord, I will get up, I will show up, I will pray up and I will never give up. Help me make it so. In Your name, dear Lord.
AMEN
TODAY’S AFFIRMATION & MEDITATION
I will persevere in prayer
Quiet yourself before God. See His loving attention focused on you. Sense His desire for you to come to Him in prayer. Hear Him lovingly save to you, “Pray and never give up.”