Persistence. Perseverance. Prayer.

So for those two lonely souls :-) who have been waiting on the edge to read the second half to Do Not Lose Heart, here it is. I hope it's not a disappointment (if you anticipated something grander). This is what I found in my notebook as I referenced in my previous post.

Jesus loved teaching in parables. One of those was to teach us we should never give up in prayer. Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: 'In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' 'For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!' And the Lord said, 'Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?' Luke 18:1-8

Jesus proposed to the listener the question of how many people with such persistent faith He'd find upon His return. That, to me, is very convicting. Discouragement does come easy when we don't see results to our prayers but Jesus challenges us to not give up. Pray continually. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Devote yourselves to prayer. Colossians 4:2

I believe that God views differently our faithful dedication to prayer in the most difficult of circumstances. Faith is easy when we see answers to prayers and blessings showered on us. God knows the endurance and strength required to be persistent and dedicated to not lose hope when we see nothing happening.

~~How would you rate your faith in believing for your most urgent prayer request?

~~Are you being persistent and faithful in prayer for this thing the Lord has not yet answered?

~~Do you often forget to pray for that particular need as you feel like it may never happen?

~~What has caused you to lighten up on this heaviest prayer request of yours?

"Will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly." Luke 18:7-8

Let's quickly look at two other examples of women persisted in faith and prayer. Shunammite and Hannah.

The Shunammite woman (2 Kings 4:8-37) often opened her home to Elisha. She provided him his own space and Elisha returned the favor by putting a favorable word in the king's ear about her desire for a child. When her son became ill and died, Elisha cried out to God asking for life to be restored to this dead boy. God heard. God listened. God answered. God returned life.

She came in, fell at his feet and bowed to the ground. Then she took her son and went out. 2 Kings 4:37

Obedience. Commitment. Persistence. Perseverance.

The story of Hannah has become one of my favorites. There's so much to her life, actions, and character. However, her persistence is resounding. She never relented. She continually went before the Throne asking for a child. She never stopped asking. She never stopped seeking. She never stopped listening. Even in her weakest moments--moments of doubt, moments of questions--she shared her heart, grief, and desires with God. I can so relate to her not necessarily in regards to her desires for a child. Doubts yet persistence. Questions yet persistence. Weariness yet persistence. Grief yet persistence. Longing yet persistence.

Then Hannah prayed and said:"My heart rejoices in the LORD; in the LORD my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance. "There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. "The LORD brings death and makes alive; he brings down to the grave and raises up. The LORD sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts. He will guard the feet of his saints, but the wicked will be silenced in darkness. "It is not by strength that one prevails." 1 Samuel 2:1-2, 6-7, 9

Another consideration is that the enemy wants us to give up, stop praying, stop believing, stop persisting. If we give in, lose heart, and stop believing, he has won. He wants us to stop communicating with the Father. He wants us to stop believing in God to act. He wants us to be filled with doubt. God is not the father of doubt and confusion. Satan fathers those. And do not give the devil a foothold. Ephesians 4:27

Instead, let us follow Jesus' example and His instructions. "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. Mark 14:38-39

You may have been praying for a very long time, but possibly you have stopped praying regularly. May I challenge you to never give up on praying for that prayer not yet answered.

Your persistence, perseverance, and faith will be rewarded in God's perfect timing!

Persisting, Persevering, Praying, Believing,

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