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I write this early morning, Wednesday morning. Tuesday was the election. The result of the election is unknown.
I didn’t get up to watch election results; I woke up to pray.
My mother was an “up at all hours on her knees” prayer warrior. I asked her once why she prayed so often. She replied, “Many prayers mean many answers.”
I’ve thought about Mom’s statement through the years and asked, “Why does the number of prayers matter?”
Isn’t it easier to have a nice “Now I lay me down to sleep” prayer when going to bed and then having a nice eight-hour snooze? Why do I have to get up in the middle of the night and add to the count?
At the end of an election the focus is on results – the number of votes. Does prayer work this way? The more the prayers, the more and better the results?
Now there was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me justice against my opponent.’ For a while he was unwilling; but later he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect any person yet because this widow is bothering me, I will give her justice; otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.’ Luke 18:3-5
The word “justice” means “avenge”. Fascinating, as “avenge” means to “inflict injury on those perpetrating evil”. Prayer is about our needs and for our healing; however, a lot of it should be about inflicting damage on evil.
Stopping evil assaults and insults.
The number does count in battle. More wins, less losses, determines the victor. For every diabolical scheme there should be a counter prayer movement inflicting godliness.
I think that’s what my mother meant. Many prayers, many answers, many victories!
As a down-on-her-knees prayer warrior, she understood the battle against demonic powers. Many prayers meant better results because she knew about a “tipping point” with God.
The prayer of the saints weighs enough to bring action. Evil is overthrown, revival comes. God avenges.
Luke 18 describes the balance shift:
And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unrighteous judge said; now, will God not bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night, and will He delay long for them? I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly.” Luke 18:6-8
The difficulty of this parable is that Jesus describes God as an unrighteous judge. I am glad its Jesus, who really knows the Father, and not me or you with this accusation. There is a moment in our praying when God seems distant, unconcerned, even unwilling, to act for justice.
There is a reason, an eternal perspective of His knowing, that keeps His hand from acting. The solution that Jesus taught was – Many prayers, many answers, many victories!
Jesus concludes His parable of the Widow and the Unrighteous Judge with a simple question:
However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth? Luke 18:8
Followers that have great faith pray many prayers for many answers and many victories. Faith gives endurance to add to the count. Keep praying. God will avenge!
Prayers today are still counted.