.....always

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up Luke 18:1

We like things to be uncomplicated: follow a few steps and reach the desired result. However, prayer cannot be reduced to a simple formula. Prayer is ongoing communication with the Heavenly Father that involves listening, speaking, and acting on what we hear from Him.

God has promised to answer our prayers, but He often waits before answering. He does so for several reasons:

• Preparation. Sometimes God has to prepare us for what He wants to give us. 
• We may have attitudes or behaviors that are not aligned with His will James 4:3
• Spiritual growth. The Lord can make us wait to test our faith or deepen our relationship with Him.
• Time. God's calendar often does not match ours. He knows what He wants to accomplish in and through us.

God includes delays as part of our prayer life. In certain situations we, like the persevering widow in Luke 18, have to persist before the Lord gives us His answer. Jesus tells us to "ask, seek, and call on God", a way of life that demonstrates confidence in God's promise to respond to His children.