We have just completed 21 Days of Prayer at Crossroads Church. What now?
1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Pray without ceasing.” Notice it doesn’t say pray 21 days without ceasing. God has expectations on day 22, 23 and so on.
Jesus taught His disciples in Luke 18 that we ought always to pray and not give up. He went on to tell them a story of an unjust judge who is petitioned by a widow and dismisses her, convinced he doesn’t have time to intervene in her case. However, because she keeps coming to him again and again, he finally gives her justice because of her persistence. He then draws the parallel between us and this story, not to suggest that God is an unjust Judge, but to point out that ours should be a prayer life that is persistent. Here’s why:
Persistant prayer is…
1. Faith’s priority.
The first fruit of real faith is faithfulness. It’s Job’s declaration, “Though God slay me, still I will trust Him.” (Job 13:15) Real faith says, “I don’t have to receive the answer to my prayer to continue to pray.”
2. Faith’s praise.
In Philippians 4:6, the Holy Spirit inspires Paul to admonish believers to offer prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. Real faith says, “I don’t have to see results to believe God has heard and will answer my prayer.” Persistent prayer comes to God again and again, not asking for the same thing over and over, but thanking God for what was requested the first time we prayed.
3. Faith’s partner.
Some would have us believe that faith is all that is required to receive something from God. Hebrews 6:12 demonstrates that this assumption is incorrect. The writer declares that it is with faith and patience that we inherit the promises of God. Patience postures us persistently in prayer however long it takes to receive our answer.
I believe we have secured God’s attention through this 21 days of prayer but I also believe God is interested in seeing what we will do with the additional 344 days! Let us PERSIST!
