JOURNAL/PERSISTENCE-PERSEVERANCE

JOURNAL/PERSISTENCE-PERSEVERANCE




“Jesus told his disciples a parable about the necessity for them to PRAY ALWAYS without becoming weary.....'because the widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a JUST DECISION for her lest she finally come out and strike me'” Luke 18:1, 5




BY keeping on PRAYING-that does NOT necessarily mean that the ANSWER to your prayers are going to be YES-but what it does mean-by KEEPING on turning to GOD in prayer-your worry will be TRANSFORMED into FAITH-meaning that whatever the outcome of your prayer- you can count on GOD to lead the way


It does NOT mean that God will necessarily give you what you want-but it does mean-that he will GIVE you what you NEED


Jesus tells us we are to PRAY ALWAYS-and entrust our needs and concerns into God's HANDS-and by doing this-WE will never LOSE HEART and we will FIND FAITH




it is a GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE for us and a great day to PRAY to God without ceasing-YOUR HOPE is in GOD-NOT in the things or the people of this world










PERSISTENCE-PERSEVERANCE




THERE is a beautiful lesson
On the VALUE of PERSISTENCE
In approaching God
In PRAYER


PERSISTENCE is defined as-
“The act or a fact of persistence
The quality or state of being persistent
ESPECIALLY PERSEVERANCE”


In the 15^th chapter
Of Saint Matthew's gospel
A Canaanite woman approaches Jesus
(she is NOT JEWISH)


“LORD-son of David
have mercy on me


My daughter is suffering terrible
From demon possession”


Jesus does not utter a word


His disciples approach him and say,


“SEND her away
For she keeps crying out
After us”


Jesus replies,
“I was sent
ONLY to the lost sheep
Of Israel” (the Jewish)


Then the woman
Comes and kneels by Jesus
And says,
“Lord-help me”


Jesus says,
“It is not right
To take
The children's bread
And toss it
To their dogs”


“YES Lord,” the woman says
“BUT even the dogs
Eat the crumbs
That fall from their master's table”


TALK ABOUT FAITH
Talk about persistence and perseverance


Jesus is so moved-he answers,
“Woman you have great faith
Your request is granted”


And that moment
Her daughter was healed
(Matthew 15:21-28)


WE can all think
Of many reasons
WHY our prayers
Will not be answered
By God


We are sinners
We have not loved
As Jesus has asked us
We feel like outsiders


All of this
Is true enough


BUT do we have
The faith
The persistence
The perseverance
Of the Canaanite woman


Persist
PERSEVERE in prayer
Have faith in God
Have faith in Jesus


The Canaanite woman
Was not
One of the chosen people


Perseverance
Simply means
STANDING FIRM in faith


Be persistent
Be persevering
In your prayers to the Lord


He will not say NO


“BECAUSE you know that
The testing of your faith
Develops perseverance


PERSEVERANCE
Must finish its work
So that you may be mature
And complete
Not lacking anything


IF any of you
Lacks wisdom
He should ask God
Who gives generously to all
Without finding fault
And it will be given to him” James 1:3-6


I heard a story
About a Catholic priest
Who was visiting a dying man


The dying man said,
“I don't know
IF the Lord
WILL take me in”


The priest said,
“Just ask”


And that IS the two things
That we all need
WHEN we come to the Lord
In prayer


FAITH AND PERSISTENCE (perseverance)


Robert P. Wallman
August 19^th, 2014




Ps Inspired by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Msgr. Stephen J. Rossetti




11-15-14