Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools: An Invitation to the Wonder and Mystery of Prayer

by Tyler Staton

Jesus doesn’t compare the unjust judge to God. He distinguishes God from the judge. His point is that “if even a judge this bad will give justice to the persistent, how much more will God see that those persistent in prayer get justice?” “Prayer is not begging God to do something for us that he doesn’t know about, or begging God to do something for us that he is reluctant to do, or begging God to do something that he hasn’t time for,” writes Eugene Peterson. “In prayer we persistently, faithfully, trustingly come before God, submitting ourselves to his sovereignty, confident that he is acting, right now, on our behalf.”9 Where does this confidence come from? From the assurance that we are his “chosen ones,” as Jesus names us in the same breath. What’s God up to right now? He’s weaving history into a redemptive, good future for his chosen ones—that’s you, me, and all who call Jesus “Lord.”