Luke 18  Jesus tells His disciples "they ought to pray and not to lose heart".  That phrase "not to lose heart"  caught my attention today.. listen to this:

2 Cor. 4:1 " Therefore, since we have this ministry ( of the New Covenant), as we received mercy, we do not lose heart... " 
Galatians 6:9 " And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary". 
Eph. 3:13 " Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory." 
II Thes. 3:13 "But as for you , brethren, do not grow weary of doing good." 

ekkakeo - to be weak, to fail in heart, faint, be weary

Jesus is saying that we must not be weak in prayer!
Don't be weak in ministry.
Don't be weak in struggles.
Don't be weak in doing good.
But, most of all... don't be weak in prayer!

Jesus tells the story of a widow who comes to an unrighteous judge.  She comes over and over asking for justice, until the judge finally answers her plea.. not because he wants to, but because he is tired of her coming.  ".. now shall not God bring about justice for His elect, who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? I tell you that He will bring about justice for them speedily. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?" 

E.M.Bounds book Purpose in Prayer emphasizes this point over and over.  I could quote the whole book here.. but I won't.  Here are a few quotes that have greatly inspired and convicted me:

"The Syrophenician woman, the importunate widow, and the friend at midnight are wonderful lessons of what dauntless prayer can do in mastering or defying conditions, in changing defeat into victory and triumphing in the regions of despair.  All these people of God knew how to pray and prevail in prayer. Their faith in prayer was no passing attitude that changed with the wind or with their own feelings and circumstances; they were confident that God always heard and answered, that His ear was always open to the cry of His children, and that the power to do what was asked of Him was equal to His willingness. "

"It is only when the whole heart is gripped with the passion of prayer that the life-giving fire descends, for none but the earnest man gets access to the ear of God; and that is the purpose of prayer."

" Could the necessity of importunity, its power and tremendous importance in prayer, be pictured in deeper or more impressive coloring? Importunate prayer surmounts or removes all obstacles, overcomes every resisting force, and gains its ends in the face of invincible hindrances.  We can do nothing without prayer, but all things can be done by importunate prayer. That is the teaching of Jesus Christ."

" There is neither encouragement nor room in the religion of the Scriptures for feeble desires, listless effort, lazy attitudes. All must be strenuous, urgent, ardent.  Inflamed desires and impassioned, unwearied insistence are the things that delight heaven.....  Heaven is too busy to listen to half-hearted prayers or to respond to hasty, thoughtless calls to God." 

Gracious Father in Heaven,  Your ear is open to hear our cries.. and we are so weak in our praying!  Forgive us, we pray!  Oh may our hearts be fully committed to pray.. earnestly, fervently, consistently.. whole heartedly!  There is great need.. injustice, evil, hatred, lies... all the fiery darts of the evil one.. are aimed at Your elect.  Yet, we have failed to cry out to You day and night.. so that You will bring about "justice" for us as You promised.   Will You find faith in us?  I pray that You will.  Stir our hearts.. Change our hearts.. light a fire within us to pray without ceasing, to pray with fervor and faith.  May we stop being lazy in our praying!  I am praying this, Lord Jesus, in Your Name!  amen.