One day Jesus told His disciples a story to illustrate their need for constant prayer and to show them that they must keep praying until the answer comes.
   "There was a city judge," He said, "a very godless man who had great contempt for everyone. A widow of that city came to him frequently to appeal for justice against a man who had harmed her. And for a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, 'Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, lest by continually coming she wear me out.' "
   Then the Lord said, "If even an evil judge can be worn down like that, don't you think that God will surely give justice to His people who plead with Him day and night? Yes! He will answer them quickly! But the question is: When I, the Messiah, return, how many will I find who have faith [and are praying]?"
   Then, teaching them more about prayer, [Jesus] used this illustration: "Suppose you went to a friend's house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You would shout up to him, 'A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit and I've nothing to give him to eat.' He would call down from his bedroom, 'Please don't ask me to get up. The door is locked for the night and we are all in bed. I just can't help you this time.'
   "But I'll tell you this - though he won't do it as a friend, if you keep knocking long enough he will get up and give you everything you want - just because of your persistence. And so it is with prayer - ask, and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Everyone who asks, receives; all who seek, find; and the door is opened to everyone who knocks.
   "You men who are fathers - if your boy asks for bread, do you give him a stone? Would any one of you fathers give his son a snake when he asks for fish? If he asks for an egg, do you give him a scorpion? [Of course not!] As bad as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, the Father in heaven will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

Taken from Luke 18, 11, The Living Bible, The New American Standard and
Today's English Version. For free Lifescope book, write Box 1575,
Carlsbad, NM 88221. Please send $1.00 for postage and handling.