(Ex.17:8-13; Ps.121:1-8; 2Tm.3:14-4:2; Lk.18:1-8) "Call out to Him day and night." How faithful is the Lord. How true is He. As our psalmist so well states, "He neither slumbers nor sleeps." Indeed, "He is beside [us] at [our] right hand"; always "the Lord will guard [us] from all evil" – "The Lord will guard your coming and your going, both now and forever." But are we so faithful to Him, turning to Him for His eternal help? "Pray always without becoming weary." This is our instruction today. This is the "wisdom for salvation" sacred Scripture brings us. Do we receive the "correction" and "training for righteousness" it would impart? Do as Jesus asks: "Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says." Though he "neither fear[s] God nor respect[s] any human being," yet because of the widow's persistence, he renders a just decision for her. And do you think God will not hear and answer us when we call out to Him? Do you think He is so "slow to answer"? Rather, "He will see to it that justice is done… speedily," for ever He waits for us to turn to Him; always He longs to do justice for us – it is His great joy to answer our prayers. Learn from our reading from the Book of Exodus. It informs us, "As long as Moses kept his hands raised up, Israel had the better of the fight, but when he let his hands rest, Amalek had the better of the fight." And it was not until Aaron and Hur supported him and "his hands remained steady till sunset" that "Joshua mowed down Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword." And so the sword of the Spirit shall not truly be our own, we will not truly be victorious in the battle against sin, until we remain always in the presence of the Lord, until we, like Him, no longer slumber or sleep. Brothers and sisters, "proclaim the Word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient," as Paul exhorts us. In sacred Scripture and the power of the Spirit we find our source for right living; by it we become "equipped for every good work." And consistently good works are found by us only if our prayer is consistent and good. Only if we remain steady and persistent in our calling out to Him at all times will He "not suffer [our] foot to slip." Let us "lift up [our] eyes toward the mountains," seeing always whence our help comes. The Lord prays for us always; let us join Him in prayer. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "Over the Stumbling Block" from Cleansing Human Frailty, fourth album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, may you find faith in our hearts, and perseverance in doing your will. YHWH, we must but be persistent, persistent in our prayer and in our work for you, and we shall find your blessing – all our enemies will be conquered and we will dwell forever with you. We look to you, O LORD, for you alone are our strength and our salvation, you alone guard us from all evil and equip us well for battle. In you and in your Word we take our refuge, and so we find the wisdom we need to attain to your glory. Quickly you come to answer our pleas, for your heart is ever set on our salvation. O may your arms be ever raised to bless us! May your love for us remain always steady, and we remain steady with you. Let us not grow weary in the battle of earthly life but continually find our inspiration in you, always ready to do your will. Hear us as we call upon you this day, O LORD, and justice shall be ours.