Saturday, April 27, 2013
By: Rachelle Hitt Bilbo
Mom, Mom, Mommmmmmmm
1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray WITHOUT ceasing.
Shortly after my son started walking and talking, I received the surprise of a lifetime. While preparing dinner, he began saying, "Mom, mom, mom..." Because he did not sound like he was in any distress, I said, "hold on baby."
Of course, that was not enough. He continued, "Mom, mom, mommmmmmmmmmmm....." I had a choice, change my name or stop everything I was doing to see what he needed. Boy, am I glad I chose the latter option.
I turned to find my one-year-old standing on our kitchen table....DANCING! His persistence got my attention. However, my reaction may not have been what he desired (admittedly, I did laugh while he was not looking).
Whether you are a parent or not, I am sure you have had the opportunity to be around children. Persistence is their gift! Sometimes, even the best of us, give in and tell the children in our lives "yes" when our initial answer to their plea was "no."
Jesus shares a parable in Luke 18 of the "Persistent Widow." In this parable, a widow continued to plea with the town judge for justice in a situation she was facing. This judge neither feared God nor cared what people thought. So, he was not quick to answer her.
Therefore, she relentlessly pleaded with him. Finally, he granted her justice...not because he felt like she deserved it but because he was tired of being bothered!
In Luke 18:7, Jesus reveals that if this was the response of an unjust judge, "...will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night? Will He keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, He will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?"
So often, we give up at the first inkling that our prayer has not been answered. In the often quoted Romans 8:28, we're reminded, "...that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."
I challenge you to do as today's verse commands, "Pray WITHOUT ceasing." Don't give up! God has not forgotten you. Isaiah 43:1 lets us know just how much God cares for us, "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine."
Dear Lord, I thank You that You hear me and that You are moving on my behalf.
I thank You, my Jesus, for dying for me. I believe that You are Lord and that God raised You from the grave so that I can have eternal life.
