Praying with Persistence

Do you really need to pray persistently? You pray day and night in full faith. Still, God doesn't seem to hear you. You are still joblessyour friend is still seriously illthe man of your dreams is nowhere in sight. What should you do?

You may think you should do nothing because if you continue praying, God may think you lack faith. Or you may think that God is teaching you the virtue of patience so you should just accept His silence with stoic resignation.

Perhaps you think that if you pray longer and harder, God will eventually answer your prayer. After all, isn't that what Jesus was implying in the parable he told about a man who kept knocking at his neighbour's door in the middle of the night asking for bread, until his neighbour finally got up and gave him the bread just to make him go away (Luke 11: 5-8)? What about the parable that Jesus told about the widow who kept coming back to an unjust judge begging for justice until she wore him out that he finally relented and granted her justice (Luke 18: 2-5)?

Sometimes praying seems like you are nagging God. You hope he will eventually answer and grant your heart's desire. Pray persistently and you will get what you want. But is that really what Jesus was saying? Will God grant your request just to get rid of you therefore allowing him to attend to countless others who are demanding His attention?

You know God is all loving. Jesus personifies the character of God in the flesh. The Bible shows various accounts of Him being prepared to help the needy and showing compassion towards them. God always hears and answers prayers. The immediate response to a prayer may be a resounding 'Yes.' At other times you receive a negative response despite persistent prayer and the patience you believe you exhibit as the wait continues.

Have no doubt. God wants you to pray persistently. Why? The life of the apostle Paul is an example of faith. Paul was believed to have "a thorn in the flesh" (2 Corinthians 12:7). There is no description but readers believe the "thorn" was a chronic and debilitating problem that kept him from doing his work. Paul prayed many times asking for God to take the 'thorn' away and waited in patience for an answer. But God didn't take the "thorn" away.

Yet, Paul got something better. Because he persistently prayed, he heard God's voice and found out God's will. He heard God say to him, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."(2 Corinthians: 9) Further, Paul realized that his 'thorn in the flesh' kept him from being conceited. He had such wonderful spiritual experiences and preaching prowess that it would have been hard not to brag about them. His 'thorn' kept him humble, however. He was always aware of his weakness and knew that whatever he achieved was God's doing, not his.

Returning to God repeatedly in prayer keeps the lines of communication open. It allows God the opportunity to communicate with you. In the silence of prayer it provides the opportunity to hear God speak. Many times it is after repeated praying that the words no longer come. This is the time when you stop talking that you will hear God in the silence.

Persistent prayer provides God the opportunity to give you the solutions you're looking for. You may have your own idea of what the solution should be, which guides you as you continue to pray. However, what you think as the solution may not be God's. There are times when God bends your will and allows the broken spirit to shine. It is in prayer that you realize that letting go is the answer that lets God work miracles in your life. God will reshape your desires and show the right resolution.

Pray persistently because you know the communications lines are open and God is listening. Actively speak with God to open the way for resolutions to come back to you. Do not lose heart. Keep praying and hold onto your faith. Hold on to the greatest opportunity by allowing God to work through you, in you and with you.

Pray with persistence for the right reasons. Experience God's presence, goodness, mercy and power as He takes charge of your life!

Article Source: http://www.myarticlesdirectory.com

Wondering why your prayers are not granted? Want to know what to do for your prayers to be granted? Go to www.how-to-pray-effectively.com and learn how to make your prayers more powerful and effective.

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