I’ll never forget a quote by Billy Graham. He once said, “Heaven is full of answers to prayers for which no one ever bothered to ask.” This quote has stayed with me for quite some time. James 4:2 says, “You do not have because you do not ask God.”
Sometimes our problem is that we haven’t asked God at all, but another problem is that we have stopped asking him. We started out well, but along the way became discouraged, and we gave up.
In Luke 18, Jesus tells the parable of the persistent widow. It’s a story about a woman who needed assistance. She kept coming back to the judge. She didn’t stop. Eventually, the judge answered her request. The point of the story is if an earthly judge is willing to answer the persistent request of a person, how much more will our good Father answer our requests.
In verse 1 of Luke 18 we learn why Jesus told the parable. The bible says, “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.”
Can I ask you a question? What prayers have you given up on?
•1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Pray continually.” Pray until the answer comes. We know that God answers prayer according to his will. We often do not know God’s will in a particular situation, so we continue to pray and believe. In God’s time he will answer. Here are some things I’m learning about persevering in prayer:
•Perseverance in prayer builds character and faithfulness
•We persist in prayer because we expect God to answer our prayers. Prayer is always to be connected with faith.
•God never delays his answers because of a lack of care or a lack of power
Here’s something to understand: Persistence in prayer is for our benefit, not God’s.
If we always got exactly what we wanted the first time we asked, we would inevitably begin to treat God as our genie, only summoned forth to give us more wishes. But that is precisely what prayer calls into question: What do you really want?
Persistence brings us to the true center of prayer, which is not something but someone. Persistence deepens our relationship with God and compels the heart to examine what it really wants most. When I pray do I really want God’s will? Do I want God even more than I want what I am asking for?
I am confident that there have been many times I have prayed for things that were not good for me. They seemed good at the moment. I may have even thought they were God’s will. But later, I realized I was misguided and even selfish in my prayers. God answering my prayers, the way I desired would have been terrible for me.
God uses persistence in prayer to purge our desires. God also uses persistence in prayer to mold, even transform, our desires, to change how we pray and even what we are praying for so that we gradually come to pray closer to the heart of God’s will.
The Apostle Paul prayed three times for a “thorn in the flesh” to be removed. He never tells us what it is, simply that it is painful, a source of torment, “a messenger of Satan.” When God didn’t answer his prayer as asked, Paul changed how he was praying. He prayed that God would help him to rely on God’s grace, God’s strength, God’s power, which was made perfect in Paul’s weakness.
No doubt you have your story of frustrations in prayer. Be encouraged this morning. Persistence does not guarantee that you will get what you asked for, but it does promise you will get something better…a deeper and more intimate relationship with God.
Today’s Challenge: Do we trust that God is in control? Do we trust that he know best for our lives? Are we confident that he loves us? If the answer to those questions is yes, then keep praying. Keep waiting on God. He is faithful.
