What do you do when your heartfelt prayer remains unanswered?
You pray on!
What do you do when your repeated requests to the Father seem to be yielding no visible answers?
You pray on!
What do you in the midst of the looming discouragement that your prayer life is futile and perhaps even ineffective?
Why, you pray on, of course!
I have been tempted during many difficult seasons in my life to throw in that metaphorical towel when it comes to prayer. It has often seemed like my prayers rarely make a difference and that in spite of an earnest life of supplication and thanksgiving, heaven simply doesn't answer.
In those moments of discouragement and even frustration, I have learned what to do next.
I pray on!
The great theologian and man of faith, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, said, "I would rather teach one man to pray than 10 men to preach."
Pray may not change my situation but I am convinced that it will assuredly change me!
There is a short story, told by Jesus, that is found in the first 5 verses of Luke Chapter 18, that I often turn to whenever I wrestle with the temptation to spend less time in prayer.
Jesus began this riveting parable by explaining the moral of the story clearly, "Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart." – Luke 18:1
Can you picture it? Jesus knew that disciples of every generation would be tempted to throw in the towel on prayer and so He lovingly yet firmly addressed it. He looked into the eyes of His eclectic band of brothers and thought of you and me as He began this wise story of influence and resolve.
Jesus may have looked across the shore of time into eternity as He wove this story of purpose, promise and prayer.
Jesus told His interested listeners that there was a widow in a certain city who was at the mercy of a judge who did not respect God or man. This desperate widow was relentless in her dealings with the prideful judge and came to him repeatedly begging for legal protection from a certain opponent.
The judge was initially unwilling to deal with the widow's miniscule issue, but eventually he thought, "Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out!" (Luke 18:4 & 5)
I am the widow in this story – I will relentlessly, hopefully and perpetually come to the Father! I will wear Him out, just like a strong-willed toddler, until He answers me! I will be that irritable fly in the face of God until something changes!
I will continually and boldly come into the throne room of God until I wear Him out!
Now remember – the purpose of Jesus, the Son of God, telling this simple yet pointed story was so that you and I would be compelled to pray at all times and not to lose heart in the throne room of the Father!
If you are between a rock and a hard place today – pray on!
If you are being tossed by the waves of despair and by the winds of discouragement – pray on!
If you are wondering where God is and if He is able to intervene in your life – pray on!
"We please God most, not by frantically trying to make ourselves good, but by throwing ourselves into His arms." – Tozer
Pray on, weary friend, pray on! 
Listen as Carol McLeod equips you to pray with strength and perseverance in the battling you're facing.
Carol McLeod is an author and popular speaker at women's conferences and retreats, where she teaches the Word of God with great joy and enthusiasm. Carol encourages and empowers women with passionate and practical biblical messages mixed with her own special brand of hope and humor. She has written 10 books, including The Rooms of a Woman's Heart; Defiant Joy!; Holy Estrogen!; No More Ordinary; Refined; Joy For All Seasons; Let There Be Joy!; Pass the Joy, Please!; Guide Your Mind, Guard Your Heart, Grace Your Tongue; and Stormproof, which releases on March 1, 2019. Her teaching DVD, The Rooms of a Woman's Heart, won the Telly Award, a prestigious industry award for excellence in religious programming. You can also listen to Carol's "Jolt of Joy" program daily on the Charisma Podcast Network. Connect with Carol or inquire about her speaking to your group at carolmcleodministries.com.
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