(Luke 18:1) Always prayer and do not give up.

This is a very important teaching by Jesus related to prayer. We must not forget that even Jesus—God as a human—prayed always. This is crucial in understand the absolute importance of prayer in our lives.

Always pray - Jesus is emphasizing the importance of continual, consistent prayer. “Always” doesn’t mean literally praying every second, but maintaining a spirit (discipline) of prayer—ongoing communication and reliance on God throughout each day.

We don’t just pray during times of personal struggles or difficulties. We are called to live a continual, consistent prayer life (1 Thessalonians 5:16). A rhythm of prayer throughout our daily living.

We need to realize that consistent prayer is about spiritual survival and a central part of spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:8 tells us, “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.

We might not have time to volunteer for ministry in our churches, but we can ALL pray.

Do not give up (lose heart): Over over 40 years of ministry, I have talked to many Christians who have lost heart and gave up on prayer. The are discouraged, tired, and disappointed.

Why do they give up and lose heart on prayer?

Because they approach prayer as causal, rational cause and effect.

They tell me, I pray but God is not answering their prayers.

As I have mentioned, our prayers are always productive and effective in the heavenly place, but we “want things to happen and in our timing.”

God is not Santa Clause.

Prayer is paradoxical and a mystery. God’s perspective is eternal, and ours is infinite and the temporal. Our earthly timeframe is not how God responds to our prayers.

Our prayers are heard and touch God’s heart, but from his eternal perspective, we will never understand how our prayer works through our temporal and pure rational thinking.

Be assured, when we prayer things happen in the heavenly places according to God’s eternal purpose. But we will always be limited in understanding how.