Last night our small group was studying Jesus’ teachings on prayer from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7. The most important aspect, we all agreed on, is to “keep praying- never quit”. There is one account of prayer in history that always reminds me of this important fact.

 

As a young person , George Mueller, who became well known for his prayer life, began praying for five friends. After five years, the first one received Christ. In ten years, two more made decisions. Mueller stayed faithful for twenty-five years and the fourth man was finally saved. By the time the fifth man received Christ, George had died and gone to be with Jesus. Fifty-two years of prayer produced eternal fruit and saw the salvation of five people.

 

Luke 18:1-8 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’” And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly.”

 

Is there someone or some situation you have been praying with no results? Be encouraged by this account. George Mueller may have thought of giving up on his friends, but he didn’t because he was trusting the Almighty God for the results. Continue to pray. God will answer you at the proper time.

 

In His Service,

Eric Barnes