Recently I observed a bird trying to fly into one of the closed windows of our storage shed.  Even though each attempt greeted him with solid glass that bounced him backward onto a bush, he repeated the process until I had a headache just watching him!  Then suddenly I sensed the Lord speaking to me...He seemed to be encouraging me that many times His children feel like their prayers are getting nowhere, just like the bird, and His Word to me was...tell them to keep praying.  I am here.  I am listening.  I have good plans.

Have you been discouraged recently?  With our current economic crisis, the swine flu threat, and continued terrorism, not to mention the daily pressures of work, family, community, and physical health...it is easy to feel overwhelmed and ineffective.

Jesus knew the struggles of life in this world, so in Luke 18:1 it says, "Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up."

He goes on to tell the parable of an unjust judge who grants a woman's request simply because she is bugging him to death (my paraphrase!).  The punch line, if you will, is Jesus telling His disciples, "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?"

My friends, God loves you so much!  When you express your faith in Him through prayer, He promises He is listening and working, even when you can't see results right away.  So keep on praying and don't give up...even though I will not open my window for that persistent bird, God will open windows and doors for you!

Let's pray.  Father, thank You that we can trust You with our prayers even when You seem silent.  We agree together right now for all the burdens of our hearts and entrust them to You one more time, confident that You care and expecting to see Your answers.  In Jesus' Precious Name we pray.  Amen.