Notes of Faith December 23, 2025
Don’t Lose Heart
Then [Jesus] spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart.
Luke 18:1
When Jesus described the events preceding the end of the age, His language likely invoked fear in the disciples (Luke 17:20-37). But then He spoke a parable designed to encourage the disciples to pray always and not give up (Luke 18:1-8). He concluded the parable by exhorting them to be faithful (to pray) as they await the Son of Man’s coming.
Recommended Reading:
Psalm 13:1-2
We often pray when we face difficulty, whether on a universal or personal scale. That was the situation faced by a first-century priest in Jerusalem, Zacharias, and his wife, Elizabeth (Luke 1:5-23). They were advanced in years and had prayed for a long time for a child. An angel of the Lord appeared to Zacharias and announced that their prayers would be answered. They would have a son, to be named John, who would be the forerunner of the Messiah. God answered their prayers in His own time and for His own purpose. It was good that Zacharias and Elizabeth did not give up praying.
If you are asking God for something, do not lose heart. God has heard your prayer and will answer in His time.
Mature faith does not live by answers to prayer, but by prayer.
R. E. O. White
Heb 11:6
without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
1 Thess 5:17-18
17 pray without ceasing;
Luke 11:9-13
9 "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 "For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened. 11 "Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? 12 "Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he? 13 "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?"
Our prayers will be answered according to the will of our heavenly Father. But is not the greatest answer to prayer being given the Holy Spirit to direct our heart and mind to the will of God for everything we bring to Him in prayer? We do not always receive the requests we make for they are most often earthly, temporary, and not heavenly and eternal. Let us pursue the Lord God with our petitions but submit to His will concerning our prayer and seek the higher and greater understanding of His purposes in all things!
Pastor Dale