Be Persistant in Prayer

 In the last post I talked about the power of prayer, and the importance of reminding yourself of God's promises when you don't see immediate answers. Today, I want to discuss the importance of being persistant in prayer. One of my favorite verses is one in which Jesus is teaching His disciples how to pray, and to be persistant in prayer. In Luke 11:5-13 He says this:

“Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need."

 How cool is that! Jesus is saying that if you don't get an answer to your prayers, keep persisting, and you will get what you asked for just because of your persistance! He continues on to say,

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 
“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

If sinful, imperfect human beings know how to give good things to their children, just imagine how much more God wants to give to you! If you have a child then you know the depth of love that you have for them. You want the very best for them. God is the same way. We are His children, and He wants the very best for each of our lives. Don't get discouraged if you don't see immediate answers to your prayers; keep persisting and you will surely see God's blessings flow into your life!

The Power of Prayer

Sometimes we may get discouraged when we don't see immediate answers to our prayers. We may even feel hopeless or disappointed when it seems as if so much time has passed yet situations which we have prayed for repeatedly, appear to remain the same. It is in these moments that we must remind ourselves that "God works in ways we cannot see." Just because it may appear as if nothing is occuring in the physical realm, does not mean that God isn't working on your behalf in the spiritual realm--or "behind the scenes" of things. Isaiah 59:1 assures us, "The LORD is not too weak to save you, and He is not becoming deaf. He can hear you when you call.”
In situations where there is nothing you can PHYSICALLY do to change circumstances; Pray, and turn to God in the midst of any difficulty. The Bible tells us, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" (Philippians 4:6). In the midst of our difficulties, anxieties, worries, or concerns, we are to pray and plead with God with thanksgiving and gratitude knowing that He will pull through.  Prayer is Powerful and you WILL see an answer. The answer may not come immediatley, but it will come at God's perfect timing. Don't get discouraged if it seems as if your prayers are not being answered. If you don't see an immediate answer to your prayers, remember the ways in which God answers:
1) Yes, and here's more!
2) Yes, I thought you'd never ask! ("You dont have because you don't ask" -James 4:2)
3) Yes, but wait; my timing is perfect. (Psalm 18:30, Ecclesiastes 3:11)
or 4) No, I love you too much, I have something EVEN BETTER in store for you.

God answers prayers that are in alignment with His will (1 John 5:14). His answers may not always be "yes," but they are always after our best interest. How encouraging is it to know that the God of the Universe is after YOUR BEST INTEREST! He wants the very best for you! So don't get discouraged when it seems as if your prayers are not being answered. Instead, get excited knowing God is doing a whole lot of work "behind the scenes;" and that whatever the outcome may be, it will be for your own good!
Joshua 21:45 tells us, "Not a single one of all the good promises the LORD had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything He had spoken came true." We can trust that God's promises towards us are true. History and experience confirm it. So when you feel discouraged because your prayers don't seem to be answered, remind yourself of the ways in which God answers, and the promises He has made us about prayer: "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, He hears us." -1 John 5:14

Below are some really awesome and encouraging verses on the power of prayer that you can meditate on to remind yourself the power God has to answer your prayers.

"We know he hears us when we make our requests." -1 John 5:15

"I cried out to the LORD, and he answered me." -Psalm 3:4

"Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say: Here am I." -Isaiah 58:9


 "Ask, and it will be given to you seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."
-Matthew 7:7

"And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” -Matthew 21:22

"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." -Mark 11:24 

"Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it." -John 14:13-14

 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." -Philippians 4:6-7