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When You Feel Like Quitting

Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to
pray and not give up.
Luke 18:1

George Mueller was a great man of faith and prayer. He once prayed for a friend's salvation. The man did not respond to Christ but Mueller kept praying. For over 60 years he prayed confidently, earnestly and expectantly for his friend to be saved. At George Mueller's funeral, that friend he had prayed for all those 60+ years gave his heart to Christ.

BUT IT'S NOT WORKING!

How easy it is for us to look at the results of our prayers and conclude, "This is not working.  God is not answering.  I just need to quit!"  Have you ever thought that and done that? Quit on your dream, your miracle, your marriage, your breakthrough? As one wise preacher has said, "It's always too early to quit." 

Jesus told a parable of a widow who was being oppressed and cheated by another.  She went to the judge for legal protection, and he was unwilling to help her.  What did she do?  Throw up her hands and quit?  Curl up into a ball and detach from society?  Curse God and die?  NO!!!  She kept coming back, day after day, to the judge and bombarded him with her request, "Give me legal protection from my opponent."  Although the judge was unrighteous and unmoved in heart by her pleas, her persistence wore him out, and he gave her what she asked for legal protection.

Don't you know how easy it would have been for her to quit?  She did not know that her persistence was wearing him down.  She just knew that the judge was her only hope and she kept coming to Him.  Obviously, what appeared from the outside observer to not be working, was indeed working and eventually, the judge granted her request. 

KEEP PRAYING

My friend, when you are tempted to quit praying about something because you see no visible results DON'T!  Keep trusting God, and keep bombarding heaven with your prayers.  Remember, God is not an unrighteous judge who cares nothing for us.  God is a good and loving Father who desires to answer us IF we will keep praying and calling out to Him.  He is a God who loves persistent prayer because persistent prayer tells God you believe Him and trust Him regardless of the circumstances.

Have you thrown in the towel on something you used to pray about - a friend's salvation, a relationship to be restored, a career change, a prodigal son to return, revival in America?  Pick up the towel and get back on your knees again.  Pray according to His will with confidence and expectation of an answer (1 Jn. 5:14-15).  God promises that He will not delay long over His elect who cry out to Him day and night.  He will answer us at the right time with a mighty answer from heaven. 

How do I know?  Because He promised (Jer. 33:3)!

Love,

Jeff Schreve
Pastor
www.fromhisheart.org
jeff@fromhisheart.org
1-800-985-1530

From His Heart Ministries can be seen on LightSource.com. This is another opportunity to reach people throughout the world with the love of Christ. Tell your friends and check us out.
Jeff Schreve is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church in Texarkana, Texas. He and his wife Debbie have been married for almost 20+ years and are blessed with three wonderful girls.
Jeff began From His Heart Ministries, a radio and television ministry, in January of 2005. This ministry is completely listener/viewer supported. It continues only through the faithful and generous gifts of people like you. Pastor Jeff takes no salary from this ministry. All gifts go to further the broadcast. Click here to become a ministry partner.