Yeah, it's been a while since I last posted and I can feel the punishment coming...but I am far too blessed to be depressed! I had a great spring break and it was great when I visited my grandmother and she graciously gave a bible to my roommate who does not yet know Jesus. Praise God! I wish I could say I always prayed knowing that God will bring about everything I ask for, but nevertheless I do not lose heart.

18:1 Then 1 Jesus 2 told them a parable to show them they should always 3 pray and not lose heart. 4 18:2 He said, 5 “In a certain city 6 there was a judge 7 who neither feared God nor respected people. 8 18:3 There was also a widow 9 in that city 10 who kept coming 11 to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 18:4 For 12 a while he refused, but later on 13 he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor have regard for people, 14 18:5 yet because this widow keeps on bothering me, I will give her justice, or in the end she will wear me out 15 by her unending pleas.’” 16 18:6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unrighteous judge says! 17 18:7 Won’t 18 God give justice to his chosen ones, who cry out 19 to him day and night? 20 Will he delay 21 long to help them? 18:8 I tell you, he will give them justice speedily. 22 Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith 23 on earth?” (Luke 18:1-8).

Just as I was thinking about persistence in prayer, I came across these verses. When we ask for something, don't we really want or need that desired thing or circumstance? How many kids, when they ask their mother for a bike, cookie, or furby (whatever was the deal with these creepy things anyways?) only half-heartedly mean it? Most want it so badly they will eventually cry for it. So then shouldn't we, who are supposed to 'not be foolish, but wise, and know what the will of God is' (Ephesians 5:17) ask knowing that God delights in giving to us? If there is anything I have learned over break, it is that, like a kid in a candy store, I am free to do whatever I please. I can steal, swear, sleep around, start fights, and commit every sin you can think of. But I don't-because I love God and know that these things lead to nothing but a dead end street called death. Every day we should be driven by this-that God's love for us will fill us up to the bursting with contentment if we allow it to. So as we pray and seek God-don't be bashful or ridden with guilt-ask our Father to give us the vision we need to stay rooted in His soil of righteousness!