Coach John Wooden loved reading. He could recite whole passages of his favorite books. One of his favorite poems about success was “Press On” by Calvin Coolidge.

Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence

Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.

Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.

Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts

Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.

Luke 18 – Relentless Prayer

At the beginning of Luke 18, Jesus told another parable about a widow to highlight the need for persistence in prayer. Jesus wants His disciples to persist in prayer while they wait for His return, not to give up.

The widow had been defrauded by someone and kept coming to court to receive legal protection. Her desperate need made her relentless and determined to obtain justice. The persistent, weak widow wore down the powerful judge, so he finally granted her the legal protection she had asked for. 

Jesus’ point was that they should pray at all times and not lose heart as they wait for His return (17:22). Christians have faced all kinds of rejection and persecution throughout history. This verse is not about praying unceasingly in general (Eph. 6:18) but is an encouragement not to give up heart or lose courage and stop praying.

The Kingdom Coach and Athlete persistently pray at all times and don’t lose heart as they wait for His return. It doesn’t matter if they are in the middle of a losing streak or about to be fired. They believe in Christ’s return, which brings comfort and encourages evangelism.

Bible Memory Verse – “Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are in the midst of the city must leave, and those who are in the countryside must not enter the city; because these are days of vengeance so that all things which are written will be fulfilled.” Luke 21:21-22 LSB

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