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Lesson 2 - The target of Prayer

But more importantly is the target of our prayer. Persistence is what we can do. But persistence cannot make things happen. If the unjust judge did not relent and agree to help the widow, her persistence will come to naught. She knew that only he alone can help her and she moved his heart through her persistence, not losing heart, to the extent that he considers her a trouble and may be wearied by her.

And he had a change of heart, from not wanting to help to actually vindicating her. Unjust as he may be, he is seen from a totally hopeless case to the one who avenges for her. This is a great change of heart and is moved by the persistence of the widow. But if he does not change heart, persistence will not help.

The target of our prayer is important. We are seeking God, one who will give us good things. The unjust judge is a contrast to God who is just. How much more will God help us when we are persistent like the widow?

Lesson 3 - The answer to prayer, the discretion of God

When we pray, we often look to an answer from God as one that He will give us what we ask for. That is not necessarily so. We are not told how the unjust judge avenged for the widow but that the judge did something.

The result of what the judge did was not important but the widow knew that it was the discretion of the judge. The result of our prayer is also the discretion of God. We should not expect God to do exactly what we ask for. We should always remember that it is God whom we are asking from, not just anyone. And we should always bear in mind that God, the almighty God, has the sole discretion to give what He knows is best for us.

But we get discouraged when we don’t get exactly what we had expected. So, we must not expect something so exact. We should only expect of God to answer, to do something for us and leave it to His discretion because He is our judge. Do we tell the judge what to do or do we place our petition to him and leave it to his decision to give what he thinks best? If we do that for our earthly judges, how much more should we not leave it to God to His full discretion?