Prayer is Persistent

"Ask [keep on asking] and it will be given to you; seek [keep on seeking] and you will find; knock [keep on knocking] and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." (MATTHEW 7:7–8)

Christ taught us to pray repeatedly and persistently (read Luke 18:1–5). And in Matthew 26:44 we read that Jesus "left them [His disciples] and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing." Jesus was not the only person in Scripture who prayed for the same thing three times. The apostle Paul also prayed for the same thing three times: "Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me." —2 Cor. 12:8, NKJV

Perseverance is a primary requirement for effective prayer. The British intercessor George Muller said, "When once I am persuaded that a thing is right, I go on praying for it till the end comes. I never give up till the answer comes. The great fault of the children of God is that they do not continue in prayer. They do not persevere. If they desire anything for God's glory, they should pray until they get it."

Why is persistence so important? There are at least three reasons.

1. Persistence in prayer sets the stage for His response.

God often postpones His answer in order to prepare the person or the situation for which we are praying to receive His response (Read Luke 22:31.32; Acts 2:14, 32.33.) Charles H. Spurgeon said, "We must be careful not to think that delays in prayer are denials. Unanswered prayers are not blown away by the wind; they are treasured in the King's archives where every prayer is recorded."

2. Persistence in prayer gives God time to make adjustments (reshaping us).

Sometimes God delays giving us His answer while He makes adjustments in our lives. Your waiting on the Lord is sometimes necessary because the Lord is waiting on you (Read 1 Samuel 1:10.11.) He may be testing your faith, your sincerity and your desire (Read 2 Chronicles 7:14.15; Isaiah 64:1.2, 7; Hebrews 11:6). This was certainly the case with the prophet Elijah, who prayed until it rained. He had to send his servant out seven times to look for a rain cloud before it appeared (1 Kings 18:43).

3. Persistence in prayer removes demonic resistance.

Sometimes demonic resistance requires persevering prayer. We call this spiritual warfare,

"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:11–12 NKJV)

It was certainly true for Daniel who prayed and fasted for three weeks (Read Daniel 10.) During that time God revealed many things to him about the last days. These revelations were so great that Daniel fell on his face trembling. The angel of God strengthened him, because demonic princes were opposing Daniel's prayers.

Understand that all prayer is war! Many of us give up the fight before winning the battle! The angel told Daniel that although God had heard his prayer the first day, it required twenty-one days of persistent prayer with fasting for God's angel to get through with the answer! Elijah said to his servant, "Go up now, look toward the sea." So he went up and looked, and said, "There is nothing." And seven times he said, "Go again." —1 Kings 18:43, NKJV

List a few things for which you have been praying a long time. What one thing will you commit to pray for persistently until the Lord answers or releases you from asking?

Section One: The Characteristics of Prayer, Lesson Two: Prayer is Current and Persistent

Eddie and Alice "America's prayer coaches"