Don't ever give up

by Rick Warren
source:minstry toolbox


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Any time there is a delay, you can be sure that two things are going
on – your faith is being tested by God and contested by Satan.

Rick Warren
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Jesus told them a story showing that it was necessary for them to pray
consistently and never quit. He said, "There was once a judge in some
city who never gave God a thought and cared nothing for people. A
widow in that city kept after him: 'My rights are being violated.
Protect me!'



"He never gave her the time of day. But after this went on and on he
said to himself, 'I care nothing what God thinks, even less what
people think. But because this widow won't quit badgering me, I'd
better do something and see that she gets justice – otherwise I'm
going to end up beaten black and blue by her pounding.'"



Then the Master said, "Do you hear what that judge, corrupt as he is,
is saying? So what makes you think God won't step in and work justice
for his chosen people, who continue to cry out for help? Won't he
stick up for them? I assure you, he will. He will not drag his feet.
But how much of that kind of persistent faith will the Son of Man find
on the earth when he returns?" (Luke 18:1-8 MSG)



We don't know what caused her distress, but this widow needed justice
and she went looking for it – with no weapon but persistence. Going to
the judge's home, she knocked on the unsympathetic man's door
repeatedly until he finally gave her what she was seeking.



Is God telling us he'll only answer our prayers if we wear him down? No!



He's reminding us that if a heartless judge can be reached, we can
certainly count on our Father – who loves us – to help us.



People ask, "Why aren't my prayers answered sooner? Why keep trying?"



Sometimes, we ask for a small blessing and get no answer – but find
out later that God denied us because he wanted to give us something
bigger.



I read about a missionary who prayed for eight years for one
conversion. None occurred but he kept on praying. One day the whole
tribe made their decision together and 12,000 were baptized.



Any time there is a delay, you can be sure that two things are going
on – your faith is being tested by God and contested by Satan. Satan
wants to discourage you, but God is testing your faith because he
knows that faith is a muscle. Waiting develops the muscle.



I read about another missionary named Reese House. While in England,
God called him to go to Africa, but he first had to find money for
train tickets to London and then money for passage to Africa.



But one day God asked, "What would you do if you had the money?" Reese
said, "I'd go to London and then get on a ship to Africa."



Leadership Development – Encouragement
Find some encouragement for your own ministry or encourage the
ministry of someone else. Check out this 14-message leadership series
on encouragement. These lessons were first taught to the leaders of
Saddleback Church by Rick Warren.
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God asked, "Am I the source of all your needs?"



"Yes."



"Then go."



So Reese and his wife announced to their church, "We're heading to
Africa." They only had enough money to get about 50 miles down the
road, but they bought train tickets anyway and went as far as they
could. Fifty miles later, they found themselves sitting in the train
station, feeling foolish.



But God spoke again to Reese. "If you had the money, what would you do?"



"I'd buy a ticket."



God said, "Get in line." He got in line behind about 18 people and
stood there as the line kept getting smaller. Reese had no money and
he kept thinking, "Boy, am I going to look dumb when I get up to that
ticket desk!"



When there were only two people ahead of him, Reese said, "Lord! I
look stupid here!"



And just then, the man in front of Reese turned around and said, "I've
changed my mind. I'm not going. Here! You can have my money."



Would it surprise you to hear that it was enough money to get Reese to Africa?



God's timing is perfect. It always is and it always will be! So next
time you feel discouraged about a prayer request, don't give up – look
up!