Here is a great sermon by my pastor on Luke 18:1-8, Genesis 32:22-30 (the Parable of the Persistent Widow; the story of Jacob wrestling with God). One key point of these passages is to inspire faith to persist in prayer and not give up. They nicely complement the readings Luke 11:1-13, Genesis 18:17-33 (the Lord's Prayer plus the examples of earthly gifts; the story of Abraham bargaining with God over Sodom) from a few months ago, which emphasize being bold in prayer.

"Hupomone" is the New Testament Greek word commonly translated as "patience" or "endurance." While the word is not explicitly used in the Parable of the Persistent Widow, it certainly is exemplified in it as well as the story of Jacob wrestling with God. It also was demonstrated in the persistent prayers of Monica for her son Augustine---something that my pastor discusses in his sermon.

On the other hand, "anaideia" is found only once in the New Testament (in the Luke 11 passage), and it means "shamelessness" or "impudence." A person who is willing to bug his friend at midnight for food---like in Luke 11---has this quality. Abraham, who said that he was "but dust and ashes," was not ashamed to ask the "Judge of all the earth" for Sodom to be spared; in fact, he seemed to grow in his boldness over the course of the discussion. There also is the story of Esther, who was brave enough to go to the king without being called, even though this was breaking the law and meant death unless the king showed grace by holding out the golden scepter (something that he did for her).

Because of certain translations, commentaries and sermons, the concepts of "persistence in prayer" and "boldness in prayer" can get confused or lumped together as being the same thing. For example, the Luke 11 passage has the verses "And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened." (vv. 9-10, ESV) Sometimes people say that these verses are about being "persistent in prayer," and even the ESV uses the word "persistence" as an alternate to "impudence" in the translation of "anaideia" (v. 8). But, the examples that Jesus gives make it clear that he is talking about "boldness" here.

We get confused in our own prayers, too. Sometimes we may put on a "false boldness" that attempts to compensate for our impatience through loudness and "magic prayer formulas." Other times we may claim to be "patient," but in reality we are just gritting our teeth rather than boldly praying for help during times of trouble.

"Boldness" has to do with the question "How do sinners approach a holy and omnipotent God?" When we consider how we despise God even though He is good to us, how we turn to our own devices and worship whatever idols we manufacture rather than Him, how we dishonor authority, kill, lust, steal, lie and covet, we begin to realize that we don't have a leg of our own to stand on before a God who is righteously angry over all of these things. We run and hide with our fig leaf coverings like Adam and Eve did (Genesis 3:1-13). But, God graciously provided a mediator to propitiate His wrath (Romans 1:18-3:26, 1 John 2:1-2, 1 John 4:7-10), so we can be bold to pray "Our Father who art in heaven."

"Persistence" has to do with question "Will God save us in the end?" The longer that we go without God seeming to answer our prayers, the harder it can be for us to believe that He will save us or the people whom we love. But, God not only has delivered the saints of old like Job (James 5:7-11), He has promised that He will bring His justice to all of His elect "speedily." (Luke 18:8) Thus, we daily pray for His kingdom to come, for our bread, forgiveness, deliverance, etc.

Both boldness and persistence in our prayers flow from faith that is created and sustained by God's Word. When our prayer life suffers, we should ask ourselves if we are regularly reading, hearing, studying and meditating upon God's Word---in particular, the promises of God (all of which find their "Yes" in Christ; 2 Corinthians 1:18-22). And, each of us should pray not only for himself. But, as a priest to God, he should pray for his neighbors and even his enemies, just as Abraham interceded for Sodom, Moses for Israel (Exodus 32:7-14), Job for his children and his friends (Job 1:4-5, 42:7-10), the Canaanite woman for her daughter and Jesus for his persecutors (Luke 23:32-34). The One who has reconciled the universe to Himself through the death of His Son on the cross (Colossians 1:19-20) will hear His children for the sake of Jesus (John 15:7-8, 16:23-24).