「你們聽這不義的審判官所說的。神的選民晝夜呼籲祂，祂縱然為他們忍耐著，豈不終久給他們伸冤麼？告訴你們，祂要快快的給他們伸冤了。」－路加福音18:6-8
若首次擊石不見火苗，我們就該再接再厲。
我們的神是聽禱告的神，只是祂不見得會按著我們腦子裡預定的時間，應允我們的求告；祂會向每顆尋求的心啟示祂的自己，然而不盡然照著我們所期望的時間和地點。因此，我們需要在禱告的事上堅定持續，永不鬆懈。
在古老的時代，為了一線明光，人們需要一再辛勤的敲擊火石；只要最後能讓火苗升起，他們就開懷的感恩不已。
我們豈不也該心中滿懷希望，不住的禱告祈求嗎？我們的禱告遠比擊石取火的勝算更大，因為我們背後有神親口的應許。
永遠不要絕望！當你相信的時候，神的憐憫就要來到。
在信心裡祈求，一點也不疑惑！不要理會王的耽擱延誤，再次拿起敲擊的火石，預備好你的火種，讓火花得以舞動飛翔；不久之後，你必重見光明！
－司布真
"Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily" (Luke 18:6, 7).God's seasons are not at your beck. If the first stroke of the flint doth not bring forth the fire, you must strike again. God will hear prayer, but He may not answer it at the time which we in our minds have appointed; He will reveal Himself to our seeking hearts, but not just when and where we have settled in our own expectations. Hence the need of perseverance and importunity in supplication.
In the days of flint and steel and brimstone matches we had to strike and strike again, dozens of times, before we could get a spark to live in the tinder; and we were thankful enough if we succeeded at last.
Shall we not be as persevering and hopeful as to heavenly things? We have more certainty of success in this business than we had with our flint and steel, for we have God's promises at our back.
Never let us despair. God's time for mercy will come; yea, it has come, if our time for believing has arrived. Ask in faith nothing wavering; but never cease from petitioning because the King delays to reply. Strike the steel again. Make the sparks fly and have your tinder ready; you will get a light before long.
--C. H. Spurgeon
