Read Luke 18:1-8

“Then [Jesus] spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,” (Luke 18:1)

This verse has a secret key to it that many overlook. Notice that Luke, the author of this Gospel, briefly interprets for us what the following parable is about. According to Luke, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the parable of the woman and the judge is about how "men always ought to pray and not lose heart." I love this. It's a wonderful insight of proof that the early church was committed to interpreting and expositing the teachings of Christ.

So what of this parable? Luke is the only one to record this parable of Christ. It’s concerning a widow and a judge.

The widow is a brokenhearted woman who desired vindication from her adversaries (see verse 3). Presumably, she was a widow because an enemy had killed her husband. However, the judge was unsympathetic to her case because he was an unjust and slothful judiciary, who was without fear of God (see verse 4). Nonetheless, because of the persistence and resoluteness of the widow, the judge, out of impatience and fatigue, finally gives in to her plea to have her enemy avenged under the law (see verse 5). Our Lord Jesus then applies His parable to our lives with an emphatic contrast.

“Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?” (Luke 18:6–7)

If an unjust judge would lend his ear to a widow he cared little for, how much more will our Father in Heaven lend his ear to His children whom He cares immensely for?

And while the context seems to deal directly with the prayers of God’s children who are in distress over persecution and injustice, the application certainly applies in many cases. We ought to always pray and never lose heart! Take note of these two words: always and never. Always pray. Never lose heart.

God is pleased when we are all in. And this right here is where Luke’s interpretation gives us a sharp understanding of what prayer is all about. God admires the persistent prayer warrior and the hopeful believer. In other words — praying is not just about praying in itself. Praying is about persistence and faith. It's about refusing to give up until God speaks, and expecting God to speak without giving up!

We might call this: Prayerful Tenacity.

Tenacity is defined as "the quality of being very determined." God wants us to pray this way. God wants us to be tenacious in our prayers. He gave us permission to be! So don't back away from it.

“And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” (1 John 5:15)

Beloved, have you lost heart in your prayers? Is there a request you’ve laid at the feet of Christ, but have given up in time? Is there a lost soul you deeply care for, but have stopped praying for because you think they’ll never soften their heart to Christ? Don’t give up! Be that persistent widow. Beg God. Implore Him. Beseech the Lord with faith and expectation! By all means, be tenacious in your prayers!

Doesn’t even a child know to be relentless when they want something? Why? Because they know their parents have the power to give it. And does not our awesome God have the power to give and take away according to the good pleasure of His will? He certainly does! Here we are, once again, forced to consider the ways of a child in matters of God’s kingdom.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:7–11)