TODAY'S PROMISE

PERSISTENT PRAYER - Sis. Evangeline Paul Dhinakaran And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? (Luke 18:7) We ought to pray and not lose heart. When we cry out to God day and night, He shall certainly do justice to us. It is stated in the Bible, "And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 'I tell you that He will avenge them speedily…." (Luke 18:7, 8). Persistent prayer is again emphasized as "Be always on the watch, and pray" (Luke 21:36). A sister was worried since her son did not get married even after reaching 31 years. With a broken heart she told me, "Sister! The Lord doesn't hear my prayer at all. I have been persistently praying but I feel God has kept the receiver down at the other end." I told her, "Be of good cheer. The Lord would certainly hear your prayer." When I too joined her in praying with fasting, a great miracle happened. A proposal came in search of her son. Within a short period the Lord heard her prayer and enabled her to conduct her son's marriage in a grand manner. When we cry out to God night and day, He surely answers our prayers. When my mother got married, my father was away from the Lord. Even the people in that village did not now the Lord. In 1961, my mother concerned about her husband and her relatives started praying with fasting for many days crying out to God, "Oh Lord, only I have accepted You and tasted Your love, please manifest Your love to my husband and relatives also." One day, being disturbed greatly she made a vow in the presence of God and prayed, "Oh Lord, You have given me four children. Please bring my husband into Your divine fold and I shall dedicate one of my children for Your ministry." She not only prayed for her husband's transformation but also prayed for God to save that entire village. The Lord heard her prayers and saved my father as well as all her relatives in that village. Today all our relatives in that village have received the joy of salvation. Whenever we see them we offer our grateful thanks to the Lord. Moreover the Lord also chose me from among the four children to do his ministry. What a wonder! The Lord who heard the fervent and tearful prayer of my mother shall certainly listen to your prayer also and do great and mighty things (Acts 16:31). Dear Friend! When you cry out to God night and day, "Oh Lord, not only me but all my relatives and all my neighbours should also know Your love", the Lord shall certainly listen to your prayer, save all of them and perform mighty miracles in your life. Prayer Loving Lord Jesus, Help me to offer persistent prayers. Give me the grace not to grow weary or lose heart while offering my prayers to You. Please enable me to settle it in my heart that You will speedily avenge Your own elect who cry out day and night to You, though You bear long with me. Strengthen me that I may watch and pray always rejoicing in You. In Your matchless name I pray. Amen