Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. (Luke 18:1)

Over the summer, I came across a little blue notebook in which I had started a prayer journal two years ago. At that time, I was experiencing the aftermath of unresolved conflict with someone I cared deeply about. I determined to pray about the situation and everyone involved every day for a year, and I bought the little notebook to record my 365 prayers. The first prayer was dated December 11; the last prayer was dated December 30 of the same year. My ambitious determination lasted less than three weeks.
 
Looking back, I’m afraid that the motive for my vow was a desire to impress God with my sincerity and thereby persuade, even obligate, Him to answer in a favorable way. A whole year is a long time to me, but it’s laughable to think the eternal God looks at it the same way. The psalmist says a thousand years is like a day in God’s sight; my year of prayers, if I had achieved it, would be like a minute!
 
Jesus taught his disciples to keep praying and not give up. He doesn’t directly explain why in his parable of the persistent widow. I’m pretty sure now that it’s not because persistent prayer impresses God. Jesus closes the discussion with a question, which may provide a hint: When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?  (v 8) Perhaps Jesus was teaching that persistent prayer is an expression of long-term faith in a God who knows and cares and possesses the power to change things.
 
Here are some suggested prayer topics for this week:
 
1.  Here’s a worthy prayer from my 3-week-long prayer journal:  Lord, replace our feelings of pleasure and triumph when we judge or criticize someone else with a sour and bitter taste that leads to regret.
 
2.  I received a prayer letter from Tomasz Chylkalast week. Be praying for Tomasz as he teaches a course in ministry leadership for 20 people from 7 churches in the surrounding area, leads a soccer team whose goal is to win souls not trophies, and prepares for a baptism service on October 15. Tomasz also asks us to specifically pray for the provision of a meeting place for a church plant in the regional capital, Katowice. You can read Tomasz’s full letter and view photos on the Calvary website starting tomorrow.
 
3.  Curt Deckert thanks those who are praying for him after recent emergency surgery to remove gall stones. I was amazed to see him in church yesterday, but he still faces a long process of healing.  Dianne Harrison also had unplanned gall bladder surgery recently while on vacation in Indiana. Pray for Dianne as she flies home this week with her husband to continue her recovery.  Lift up Lorraine Kratt, who underwent a lengthy surgery on Friday to remove her cancerous bladder plus nearby lymph nodes. At last report, Lorraine was experiencing a lot of pain.  Sylvia Mudrickalso needs our prayer and expressions of caring as she recovers and rehabs from major back surgery.
 
4.  Kathy and Charlie Tielrooy request prayer for their daughter Emily, who starts boot camp in the Army this week. Pray for her safety and pray that she will remain strong in her walk with the Lord, listening to His voice and following Him.
 
5.  About 70 of us women can praise the Lord for the testimony we saw and heard in Maureen Schaffer, our speaker at the women’s conference. Maureen accepted the invitation to speak back in June, shortly after she learned the cancer that first struck four years ago has returned and spread. Doctors have told her the cancer is inoperable and terminal. Maureen is a shining example of someone who puts God and His kingdom first, with passion and good cheer, no matter what.
 
6.  Maureen gave us much food for thought and prayer. I’ll share just one example. Do you live with the nagging feeling that some especially big sin from your past is still a debt unpaid? Consider before the Lord what lies behind that feeling: My sin is too big to be wiped clean by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Maureen exhorted us not to exalt our sin over the sacrifice that has paid for it, not to give our sin more power and authority than it really has. If that attitude has been lurking in your heart, verbalize it and confess it.    
 
7.  Our elders – Paul Bautts, Nick DonVito, John Gilbert, Bob Sanchez, and Dave Tebay – are meeting on Thursday evening. They are godly but imperfect men carrying a heavy responsibility in the body. Let’s bring them before the throne of heaven.
 

In Christ,
Carol Gilbert
Prayer Chair
Calvary Community Church of Brea