06/05/2024
Persistence in prayer is our topic for this morning and at first glance it almost appears that in doing so we are attempting to force our desires on God, but there is more to this practice. God hears every word we utter in prayer and His memory is perfect, so why should we approach Him repeatedly with the same request until it is either granted, or denied? Because Jesus tells us to do so. Pastor E.M. Bounds gave some insight into this practice when he wrote: "it is praying with courage until our cries are [realized]." He went on to describe persistent prayer as "prayer on fire... Not having a feeble, flickering flame or momentary spark, but shines with a vigorous, steady glow." in other words it is a reflection of our faith which stands behind it.
“Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
James 1:3-4 KJV
Billy Graham referred to this kind of praying as prayer without a "Plan B". When we are persistent in our prayers we are praying with a singleness of desire that borders on desperation. There is no solution unless Jesus hears our prayer... And we have faith that He not only will hear it, but will also act upon it.
In Luke 11 Jesus teaches His disciples the Lord's Prayer, but immediately follows it with the parable of a man who goes to his neighbor's door at midnightasking for a loaf of bread to feed an unexpected guest because he has none. Eventually the neighbor gets out of bed and gives his friend some bread... Not because they were friends but out of annoyance at the persistent knocking.
“I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.”
Luke 11:8 KJV
Or, as it reads in the New Living Translation:
“But I tell you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.”
Luke 11:8 NLT
This is a powerful parable and we hear a bit of it again in Colossians:
“Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:”
Colossians 4:2-3 KJV
So, we are told to keep knocking, to be persistent in our prayers. In this very persistence we are revealing our strength of faith, and singleness of desire and purpose.
I have four children and often they have requested something of me that, although I had every intention of providing, the timing was inconvenient. So I would go on about my business until they had approached me several more times. Eventually I would see how much they wanted the object of their request, or how much the need meant to them, then I would stop whatever I was doing to help them or provide what they requested. Often I would hear the desperation mounting in their voices. Our Heavenly Father listens for that determination and sense of urgency in our prayers, just as we have listened for it in the voices of our own children.
Jesus speaks of knocking as well. When He knocked at your door, how many times did he do so before you finally opened it to Him? Persistence, patience, these are things that have been taught to us so that we won't give up too soon. It develops our faith and increases our thankfulness. Listen to jesus…
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
Revelation 3:20 KJV
This morning when we pray let's continue in prayer for those things for which we have no "Plan B". Let's pray with persistence for those needs in which God is our first and only hope for provision. Pray as if it is approaching midnight and there is no bread in the house. Let God hear the urgency in our voices and the unwavering faith that we have in His desire and ability to provide for us, and then let's thank Him, even before His hand moves on our behalf let’s thank Him.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your patience as we pray repeatedly for something that troubles us, or for things of which we are in great need. Thank you for not only hearing our prayers as we come before you, but also for responding to them. Father we also pray that you don’t find any desire on our part to manipulate you, or force you to act against your will as you do ours, but that you only see a reflection of our desperation, great need, and an absolute confidence in your will, and ability to provide for us. Open our eyes Holy Father to where the line is drawn between our wills and yours, and teach us not to cross that line, but to pray for your will to always be done before ours. We hear the prayers of Jesus, and we come to you as He did, confident in your provision, and asking for your will to be done. Forgive us Father if our prayers should be made with a wrong spirit as if we believe we can order you to obey us in them, and never let us rise up from our knees, or lose our humility, as we come before you. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who was, and is, and is to come. Holy are you who answers prayer, and whose Son Jesus stands righteously at our door and knocks for us to let Him in. You are loving, merciful, and full of grace Lord, and from these attributes you answer prayer. You hear and respond to many prayers, but we ask most that you help us in our unbelief, and to be more like Jesus with every breath we breathe. Our ultimate and repeated prayer is to be worthy as He is worthy, and to be pleasing to you as He is pleasing. Call us your children, and welcome us into your eternal presence we pray… this is our prayer today and every day until the coming of Jesus to claim us for you, and to receive us as His church, and to be His bride.
Amen!
“He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”
Revelation 3:20-22 KJV
Rich Forbes