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Grass Paths and Persistent Prayer

Jesus told them a parable
about their need to pray always
and not to lose heart.


 Early African converts to Christianity were sincere and regular in private devotions, praying and reading scripture. Each convert had a separate spot in a grove to pour out their heart to God. 

Eventually the paths to the groves became well worn. 

So, if one of these converts began to neglect prayer, others soon noticed. Other converters would kindly remind the careless one, “Brother, the grass grows on your path.”

Each Sunday as I listen to people lift their prayer requests asking God to change something, a sickness or a situation, I notice some of the prayer requests are repeated week after week.

This persistence prayer request carries a sense of hope within it.

Forgetting that God hears and answers prayer in God’s ways and God’s time, grass may begin to grow on the path.

It’s then that a sense of hopelessness can set in.

It’s time to begin walking the path to their grove again and pouring out their sense of hopelessness to God knowing God hears and answers in way most beneficial to the convert.

Beginning to walk the path to the grove again, people long for refreshing words of encouragement while seeking a new hopeful life.

Turning to God in prayer is all it takes for this new and hopeful life.


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