16 Jan 09 (Week 4 on the theme "Prayer & Intercession")

Do not give up, pray through until a breakthrough
Joshua Nathan

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” Ephesians 6: 18

Introduction
It is normal to give up praying when answers to our prayers are not forthcoming or there seems to be no intervention of God in a specific area which is being prayed for earnestly. We may miss the blessing from God because we easily give up praying although the answer is just around the corner. Ephesians exhorts us to “pray with all perseverance”. Eph 6:18. Throughout his ministry, Jesus emphasized the importance of persistent praying. What is persistent praying? It means that we must not only pray, but we must pray with intensity. We must pray with urgency. We must pray with repetition. We must not get tired of praying. We must be earnest, thorough and deeply concerned about the things we are praying for.

“Will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out day and night”
Jesus spoke about persistent prayer through two parables. The first is recorded in Luke 18: 1-8. He told his disciples this parable to show them that men ought always to pray, and not to faint. The parable is about how a widow in a crisis managed to change the heart of an unjust judge who did not fear God and man. Her victory was her persistent asking. If the unjust judge could respond to the persistence of a helpless widow, how much more our father in Heaven who is just, perfect and compassionate would respond to us no matter how long we tarry in prayer. “...will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out day and night”. How much more our Father would come to our rescue to heal, deliver and restore us when we cry out day and night in any crisis?

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you
The second parable is recorded in Luke 11:5-8. It is about a man who goes to his friend at midnight and asked for three loaves of bread. Although it is an odd time and is likely to cause some inconvenience to him and his family, the insistence and the boldness of the requester moves his heart. He gets up and gives him the bread because he is his friend. There is an initial reluctance to get up. But the man stays and continues to ask and he gets what he wants. After telling the parable, Jesus went on to speak about the steps in persistence prayer, “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you”. V: 9. No matter how tempting it is to give up, we are exhorted to keep asking, keep seeking and keep knocking until the door of heaven opens.

“I will not let you go until you bless me”
In Genesis 32:24-28 we read about the incident where Jacob wrestled with God throughout the night. This is a beautiful picture of one who travails in prayer until the Lord touches and blesses Him. Jacob was physically and emotionally exhausted through his all night wrestling with God. But he did not release his hold on God. He clung to Him tightly and said, “ I will not let you go unless you bless me”. V: 26. The outcome was life transforming. God changed his character, his name, his attitude and even the attitude of his brother Esau. More importantly, God made Jacob to be a blessing to Israel through this encounter. May we persist in our prayer against all odds until we see the break-through and receive the blessings.

“An abundance of rain”
Another lesson of blessing of persistent prayer can be learnt from how Elijah prayed for rain seven times during a season of severe famine and drought in the land. 1 Kings 18:41-45. It was said about Elijah that “he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees and prayed earnestly for rain to pour upon the land. His servant reported 6 times that there was no sign of any rain coming. But he did not give up praying. And the breakthrough came on the seventh time when he prayed. “the seventh time the servant reported , “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the seas”. V: 44. Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain came...V:45.

Friends, do not give up praying over your situation. The raincloud is being formed while you are praying. And the rain is coming. Press in with your persistent prayer. Do not give up. He will come and save you. Lift your eyes and see. He will surely come and save you. Amen!