Prayer is important but we don't act like it.

We know we should pray and that prayer is supposed to be a good thing even essential, but a lot of times we just do not feel like it. What do we do then?

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

In the parable that follows this verse, Jesus tells about a woman who keeps going to a judge to get justice but he continues to refuse her. Eventually, he gives in because she has worn him out. Jesus makes the point that God responds to our request more willingly than the judge who does not and therefore we should always pray and not give up.

This type of prayer that the woman portrayed was the prayer of need. We may feel that our needs are insignificant or not worthy of God's attention but the opposite is true. Every need and situation no matter how small are worthy of the attention of Him who sent his only begotten son to die for our sins.

ALWAYS

Always can refer to time. It can mean we should be ready and willing to engage in prayer no matter what time of day, whether it is morning, noon or night. It means we should be willing to pray on any and every day of the week or season of life.

Always can refer to anyplace. You should pray in your church as part of your community of worship but you should pray at home, at work, in the place of leisure or the marketplace.

Always can refer to circumstances. When you have problems, trials, and testings you should pray. When you have times of refreshment, peace, and relaxation you should pray. Be they good times or bad you should pray in those times.

Always can refer to the practice of a daily discipline of prayer where we have a habit of praying at certain times.

Always can refer to the prayer that is spontaneous and offered at the spur of the moment.

We should pray morning and night at work and rest. We should not allow other things to crowd out the importance of prayer.

NOT GIVE UP

There are many hindrances to prayer and there is much to oppose prayer in our lives.
Such as...
* We are attacked by doubts and guilt or a sense of unworthiness.
* We may not see the answers we expect or desire.
* We may have doubts that God is interested in our prayers.
* Our sins may have made us feel distant from God.

But knowing that God is good and trusting in His goodness should encourage us to pray.

If you don't feel like praying you should pray even more. If you are discouraged in prayer you should resolve to not give up.

NOT JUST ADVICE

This passage has many parallels in the Bible where we are admonished to pray, and there are more where we are commanded to pray.

If we do not feel like praying we should not give up we should still pray.

If you feel that you are distant from God maybe you need to come to Him and receive his gift of