06/18/2021
There are times in our lives of faith when we come face to face with something we refer to as the silence of God. We pray for a thing that we know in our heart is within His will, and worthy of being prayed for in the name of Jesus, yet nothing seems to come of it. The question is… do we continue to pray each day for this thing, and not lose faith in God’s promise? Do we persevere in our faith and prayer as we wait on the Lord?
“And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.”
Luke 18:1 ESV
Two men came to my intercessory prayer partner and me asking for us to pray for their business lives. One was a corporate senior executive who was doing consulting work while he searched for a permanent job, and the other man had his own business that was on hard times because he needed more work, and for his current customers to pay him what they owed him. So we laid hands on these men, and began to pray in the Spirit for them. Both men had faith, and came to God trusting in Him to hear their need, and grant it. It was in this way that we prayed with them each Monday night, and in our personal prayers throughout the remaining days of the week. Such are the prayers of Intercessors, and we should remain in constant prayer as well while seeking God in our own prayer closets.
“On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have set watchmen; all the day and all the night they shall never be silent. You who put the Lord in remembrance, take no rest, and give him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it a praise in the earth.”
Isaiah 62:6-7 ESV
It began immediately, but within a couple of weeks the man whose business was on the verge of failure had seen a miraculous turnaround. Customers paid their debts to him, and lucrative new jobs were placed under contract that insured the future wellbeing of his company. God had answered his prayer, and for the next weeks we met together to offer praise for all that the Lord had done.
However, the senior executive continued to come to us faithfully each week for several years as we prayed for just the right opportunity to present itself to him. We prayed for a job that wouldn’t require a great deal of travel, so that he could do more in church, and for his family. Throughout the silent years he continued to have faith, and always had enough contract jobs with various corporations to keep him financially secure. So, week after week, and year after year, we prayed together without fail; always trusting that God would provide for him when the time was right, and the opportunity perfect. Finally, after all this time of faithful prayer the perfect position presented itself with a company that was owned by Christian men, located locally, needed just the skills he possessed, and didn’t require travel. God had rewarded his perseverance, and faith… and while waiting he had grown amazingly in his faith, and trust in God.
“But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.”
Micah 7:7 ESV
I can’t tell you why one of these men received God’s answer almost immediately, and the other had to wait as he did, maintaining his faith, and persevering in prayer for so long, but I can tell you that when God answered each of them his response was perfect, and that he provided amazingly for them both as they waited. Is our faith strong, and do we persevere in our prayers… even as we hear only the silence of God? Will Jesus find us waiting in unwavering faith if He should return to claim His bride in the midst of our continuing prayer?
“And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?””
Luke 18:7-8 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for hearing our prayers, and being faithful to answer them when they are prayed in faith, within your will, and in the name of Jesus. We thank you, and praise your name for every answered prayer, but we also praise you for those on which we wait, and others that are not answered as we have anticipated. Give us perseverance Father, and sustain us as we wait on you. Help us to endure the hardships, suffering, and thirst of the spirit, as we pray and trust in you. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who hears us, delivers us, and answers our prayers. Great are you Lord, and your thoughts are far above ours. You give us only good things, and if we pray for harmful things you are wise, and merciful, to hold them back. You know our needs before we open our mouths to pray, and you are working to deliver them even as we ask. Give us only what would increase our faith, and bring honor and glory to you Father… regardless of our childlike view of existence, what is right, and our personal will. Wash us clean in the blood of Jesus, and seat us at your table forevermore Lord. Tell us then Holy Father why we were made to wait on you, or didn’t received some things we prayed for as we thought we should. Do so and we will praise you for working those things for our good.
“But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.”
Micah 7:7 ESV
“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.”
Luke 11:9-10 ESV
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28 ESV
Rich Forbes