Then He spoke a parable to them that men always ought to pray and not lose heart. (Luke 18:1—NIV)

Following these words the Lord Jesus communicates a most astounding parable of a helpless widow desiring a reckless, indifferent, and unfearing judge to rightly dispense law in her behalf. His point was simple. If a calloused judge will respond to the efforts of a defenseless widow woman for selfish reasons how much more may be anticipated the righteous response of God on the behalf of His persistently praying elect?

His purpose is put forward in the verse quoted above. The word “ought” speaks of logical necessity or “must”. Men need to pray and pray often. As the parable tells it, men must cry out day and night.

The thought behind “lose heart” is a bit more picturesque. It means to faint, to give in, to turn coward, to behave badly, to lose courage or to flag. Loss of intensity is a natural human characteristic unless counterbalanced by a mature, battle-hardened, strong will to endure.

Each day the prayer warrior arises, puts on the whole armor of God and engages in hand-to-hand spiritual warfare. His object is to gain from the enemy of his soul a measure of level ground upon which to build a life of peace with God right here in the dusty county courthouse of King George, Virginia. Despite the taste of dirt in the mouth and the armor begrimed with the gore of the struggle, the mature prayer warrior does not lose his intensity. The battle goes on until the General declares victory.

Our Lord asks the question, “When the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” The implication being that the faith of the faithful may very well be flagging just before His return. If there ever where a time when your country, county, church and family needed a prayer warrior it is most assuredly now. Arise, put on the armor of God and do battle courageously for your Lord and Savior!