OUR DAILY BREAD                        Wed., December 14, 1994
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READ:  Luke 18:1-8

                  FIGHT OR PRAY?

      "He spoke a parable to them, that men
      always ought to pray and not lose heart."

                   - Luke 18:1

When my son Ben was 6 years old, he had a playground
adversary.  According to Ben, this fellow had gone too
far, and he thought the only solution was to fight it
out.  So I talked to him about the Christ-like way to
handle the situation.

I asked him, "Did you pray to the Lord for understanding
and help to avoid a fight?"  He didn't answer, so I asked
him again.  This time with childish candor he blurted
out, "No, I don't want to pray.  I'd rather beat him up."

How revealing!  The problem was that he didn't feel weak
enough to seek God's help.

We often hesitate to pray for the Lord's guidance in a
tough situation because we think we can work it out
ourselves.  But if that's our attitude, we are not yet
in the place where God will come to our assistance.  He
wants us to sense that we really are helpless.

Jesus told the parable of the widow and the unjust
judge to encourage us to continue bringing our concerns
to the Father.  If we are not persistent in seeking His
help, we may "lose heart" (Lk. 18:1) because our own
efforts are inadequate.  And God, unlike an unjust
judge, longs to come to our aid.

What problems are facing you?  Are you going to
fight or pray?

    -- Martin R. DeHaan II

 Pray, always pray, the Holy Spirit pleads,
 Bring to thy God thy daily, hourly needs;
 All earthly things with earth shall pass away;
 Prayer grasps eternity; pray - always pray!

    -- Bickersteth

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             THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
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   The best way to stay on your feet
   is to get down on your knees.

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   THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:  Hebrews 11-13

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Our Daily Bread, Copyright 1994, used by permission of
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