April 28 – Perseverance in Prayer

Luke 18:1 –
"Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up." (NIV)

SITREP:
When the wait feels long and the silence stretches deep, do you stay in the fight—or stop praying altogether? A warrior never stops communicating with his commander. Stay in prayer and never give up seeking God.

This verse introduces the Parable of the Persistent Widow. In it, Jesus tells of a woman who relentlessly pursued justice from an unjust judge. She didn’t have influence. She didn’t have power. What she did have was perseverance. She wore the judge down with her persistence until he finally gave her what she asked.

Jesus uses this to draw a sharp contrast: if even an unrighteous man will eventually respond, how much more will God, who is perfectly just and loving, respond to His people? Luke 18:1 isn’t about begging or bargaining—it’s about unshakable faith expressed through persistent prayer.

Jesus gives the bottom-line up front: “Always pray and don’t give up.”

How This Applies to a Soldier’s Faith:
In battle, communication is everything. Without regular contact with command, you lose awareness, reinforcements, and direction. Spiritually, prayer is your lifeline—it’s how you stay aligned with God’s strategy, support, and strength.

• “They should always pray…”
• A disciplined soldier keeps his comms open at all times. So does a follower of Christ. You don’t pray just when things are falling apart—you stay in constant communication.
• “…and not give up.”
• Missions take time. So do prayers. Sometimes the answers don’t come fast—but the discipline is in not backing off. Persistence is how you stay mission-focused, even when results aren’t immediate.
• Prayer fuels endurance.
• Soldiers rely on support from above—intel, supply drops, air cover. Spiritually, that support is accessed through prayer. It’s where you draw strength when you’re spent.

Jesus isn’t just offering a suggestion—He’s giving a field order. Keep the line open. Stay on the net. Don’t let spiritual radio silence creep in. Prayer isn’t your last resort—it’s your operating standard.

ENDEX:
A warrior never lets communication fail. When the mission stretches long or the fight grows heavy, you stay connected. Luke 18:1 is your directive to stay in contact with your Commander—always.

You may not see the results yet. You may feel unheard. But heaven is listening, and the call is still live. Don’t break contact. Don’t give in to silence.

Stay on the frequency. Pray without quitting. Your breakthrough may be one call away.

AAR (After Action Review):
If you've ever kept praying through silence and delay—and eventually saw God move—share that story. Someone else may be feeling unheard and on the edge of giving up. Your testimony could be the voice that keeps them on the net.

Make your voice count—share what you’ve lived.

Share your experiences in the comments below. Your words could encourage someone else walking a similar path.

If you're comfortable, include as much or as little personal detail as you’d like. We suggest:

• Name
• Veteran, Retired, Family Member etc.
• Service Branch
• Years of Service (or Deployment Dates and Locations)

Every story matters—and yours might be exactly what someone else needs to hear.