Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray an not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God not cared about men. And there was a certain widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!’ And the lord said, ‘Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 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?’ Luke 18:1-8
The reason I like this prayer is its ongoing nature. We continue to ask for justice and peace. Jesus continues to pray for us. Why? Because we need it! Human hopes are exhausted in our overly indulged, overly committed lifestyles. This prayer points us to God’s never ending abundance. “Continue to teach us to pray.:” This prayer affirms that it is a process of learning how. All those frustrating little life experiences are God’s teaching ground.
Holy Spirit, we again give you this church and this community
Please bless our fellowship
Deepen our commitment to being Jesus’ body, bringing his love to bear on our relationships here and where we live and where we work
Inspire our worship so that seekers will sense your power and your love working in us and working through us
Lord we pray for our country and our world and continue to ask for justice and peace
We ask that you would make us generous people so that our abundance can bring your hope where human hopes have been exhausted
Father, lead us as your children to be more and more like Jesus
Lead us to deeper and deeper in our walks with you
And continue to teach us to pray, even as Jesus taught his disciples to pray.
Amen
Prayer for the People, Menlo Park Church Service 12 February 2000
View Part 1 of Prayers for the Parched: Once Again – Part 1