Do you ever feel weary in prayer? Waiting for an answer seems long. We get impatient and want to give up.
At those times, we have to remember Jesus’ words in Luke 18:1.
Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.
Persistence in prayer is important for spiritual growth.
Persistence is the firm, continual course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition.
We don’t know how the Lord is moving behind the scenes. We don’t know who God will use to bring about His purposes.
We are called to pray and not give up.
In scripture, we have many examples of people who persisted in prayer.
Abraham (Genesis 18:23-33), Moses (Dt 9:25-29), Job, and Hannah (1 Sam 1:10-11) all persisted in prayer, to name a few. They prayed, waited, and grew stronger in faith.
The apostle Paul also taught about relentless prayer. The Holy Spirit nudges us to pray.
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17
The benefits of persistent prayer encourage us to keep praying.
Continual prayer increases your faith, believing that God is listening even when he seems silent.
Persistence in prayer keeps hope alive, improving your mindset as you wait.
Prayer is an honest expression of your soul to the God of the universe, expressing our dependence on Him.
Jesus prayed throughout his life, in all circumstances.
He taught us to pray. He sought relationship with God through prayer. Jesus prayed for God’s power to be revealed. He prayed with honesty and submission to God’s will. He prayed for others as well as himself.
We are encouraged to do the same, to be persistent in prayer in all circumstances. The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.
The scriptures encourage us to keep on praying.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12
Are you weary in prayer?
Remember that living the Christian life is a marathon. At some point, marathon runners will want to quit from fatigue and loss of energy. They dig deep within themselves to find the courage and desire to finish.
We can do the same in our prayer lives, persevering when we’d rather quit.
At those times, we lean into our relationship with the Lord, and recall the words of scripture, regaining hope.
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16
Persistence in prayer is a spiritual discipline. It keeps hope alive while strengthening your faith.
Press On!
