-Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.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.’
The woman was not seeking forgiveness or mercy; she was demanding justice for a cause that mattered greatly to her. She was confronting a man who held significantly more power, firmly believing that justice should prevail and that her opponent should not obstruct her cause.
We all face adversaries who seek to stop us from achieving our important goals. The widow could have felt defeated or entertained by these challenges, and she might have even fallen into the adversary’s logic, thinking he was justified. Sometimes, our greatest adversary can even be our own comfort.
Jesus reveals three powerful abilities we can call upon when fighting for a cause that leads to a significant victory in our lives.
First, remember that the cause you are fighting for demonstrates that you have an important purpose. It elevates you above the comfort of silence and the reluctance to be complacent, leading you to the certainty that achieving your goals is possible and worth fighting for.
Second, constant prayer and worship are the best strategies for being aware of God’s presence in our lives. Even the adversary who sought to destroy the vital cause served as an incentive for this woman to rise above her circumstances and seek justice. We must always remember that God desires to accompany us until we achieve victory.
Finally, this prayer teaches us to always look above ourselves and our own adversary. If we only saw ourselves or our prayer was focused on the adversary instead of achieving our vital cause, we would be engaged in a fight where perhaps hatred, resentment or revenge had more weight than our thirst for justice and connecting us with our higher purpose.
1 Corinthians 16:13 “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.
Reflection: Jesus teaches us that despite our weaknesses and life’s injustices, there is a powerful Judge deeply invested in our fulfillment. He designed us and our challenges can help us recognize His presence. What important cause in your life motivates you to build character and seek God’s companionship through intercession?
Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your consistent, unchanging love for me. Help me to follow Your example and learn to be consistent in the things you want me to do and the changes You want me to make. Fill me with the determination to follow through and keep going. With Your strength, I know I can overcome the temptation to quit on the goals You’ve laid before me. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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