Men Ought Always to Pray and Not Lose Heart • Deshen Daily

And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. (Luke 18:1 ESV)

Jesus said we ought always to pray and not to lose heart. So it is possible to lose heart in prayer. How do we lose heart in prayer, and why?

It is no surprise that many believers are fainting in prayer and losing heart. For many, their prayer altars are currently like the walls of Jerusalem that were broken down and in ruins. They feel like an athlete that has run out of strength for the race.

What does it mean to lose heart in prayer? The parable Jesus told after the first verse of Luke 18 clarified His point. He told a story of a widow who was persistent in her request before a judge until the judge granted her desire.

The widow did not faint in her request, a picture of our prayers. She did not cease; neither did she become weary or discouraged. Not ceasing means she did not stop asking because she did not obtain an answer to her prayer the first, second, or even third time. Similarly, not becoming weary means she retained her strength and vigor in prayer. And lastly, she didn’t lose her courage—becoming discouraged because of the obstacles in prayer or the lack of response.

Like the widow, Jesus says men ought always to pray and not to faint or lose heart. We should not stop praying, become tired of praying, or be discouraged by the pressures or any delay in answers.

Meditate

What are the two reasons for discouragement in prayer noted above? How do they apply to you?

Apply the Word

Put this word to practice. Have you fainted in prayer? Is your prayer altar like the broken walls of Jerusalem? If so, it is time to rebuild the altar of prayer. Rekindle the fire. Prayer is a battle, don’t quit until the trophy is in your hands.