He will do anything to train us in the exercise of this trust in Him.
Blessed the man who is not staggered by God's delay, or silence, or
apparent refusal, but is strong in faith, giving glory to God. Such
faith perseveres, importunately, if need be, and cannot fail to inherit
the blessing.

6. Note, last, _the certainty of a rich reward_.--"I say unto you,
because of his importunity, he will give him as many as he needeth." Oh
that we might learn to believe in the certainty of an abundant answer. A
prophet said of old: "Let not your hands be weak; _your work shall be
rewarded_." Would that all who feel it difficult to pray much, would fix
their eye on the recompense of the reward, and in faith learn to count
upon the Divine assurance that their prayer cannot be vain. If we will
but believe in God and His faithfulness, intercession will become to us
the very first thing we take refuge in when we seek blessing for others,
and the very last thing for which we cannot find time. And it will
become a thing of joy and hope, because, all the time we pray, we know
that we are sowing seed that will bring forth fruit an hundredfold.
Disappointment is impossible: "I say unto you, He will rise and give him
as many as he needeth."

Let all lovers of souls, and all workers in the service of the gospel,
take courage. Time spent in prayer will yield more than that given to
work. Prayer alone gives work its worth and its success. Prayer opens
the way for God Himself to do His work in us and through us. Let our
chief work, as God's messengers, be intercession: in it we secure the
presence and power of God to go with us.

"Which of you shall have a friend at midnight, and shall say to him,
Friend, lend me three loaves?" This friend is none other but our God. Do
let us learn that in the darkness of midnight, at the most unlikely
time, and in the greatest need, when we have to say of those we love and
care for, "I have nothing to set before them," we have a rich Friend in
heaven, the Everlasting God and Father, who only waits to be asked
aright. Let us confess before Him our lack of prayer. Let us admit that
the lack of faith, of which it is the proof, is the symptom of a life
that is not spiritual, that is yet all too much under the power of self
and the flesh and the world. Let us in the faith of the Lord Jesus, who
spake this parable, and Himself waits to make every trait of it true in
us, give ourselves to be intercessors. Let every