Persistence in Prayer

"We should persist in prayer until we have an overwhelming desire not to." (Why does God Require Persistence in Prayer? by Pastor Rankin Wilbourne)

One of the lessons during my devotions this January is to persist in prayer.

I am a little overwhelmed by this. I mean, I've known and heard about praying unceasingly. But looking back, I cannot recall a time when I have truly applied this in my life. I've had faith goals before, yes. I prayed for them and believed for them in the beginning of the year. Sadly, as months progressed, I forget to lay them over and over again before God until he answers them or until he gives an answer.

So now, in this season, I feel a little overwhelmed by it. It rings so truly with the truth banner that I am holding on to this year - and that is, to abide in God.

At the beginning of this year, and even before the end of last year, I have come to realize that I want more of God. I want to know him more- I want to again desire him more than anything else. And I think God is reminding me that prayer is an effective means to achieve this.

Thinking about it, I think that a reason behind my not praying unceasingly is because I have this attitude of accepting things easily. In my own language, I'd call it my kung ayaw mo, 'wag mo (If you don't want to, then don't) attitude - which speaks a lot about my pride. I have to do away with that pride. I have to acknowledge that there are things that I desire so badly and that I must be humble enough to show it to other people. Well, maybe not to everyone. But I have to stop acting "strong" before God. He knows what I truly feel inside. There is no point in putting up a facade.

Another thing that I find difficult about persistence in prayer is that you need to invest a lot of your emotions into it - and because of that, the tendency is to get frustrated. I am a very emotional person - which is why I often tend to run away from things that I truly care about. It may not look like it, but given a chance and a choice, I would decline responsibilities. Again, I need to change this tendency if I truly want to know God more. Persistence in prayer may result into frustration. But that "frustration purges and purifies our desires."

Here is an excerpt from Why does God Require Persistence in Prayer? for a deeper understanding of this:

Persistence compels 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. Do you want God’s will? Do you want God even more than you want what you are asking for? If not, then for God to grant what you are asking for, even if it is a good thing, might be the most unloving thing God could ever do.
Persistence demands patience, waiting. This is the ground of spiritual growth, spiritual vitality, and health! Because our natural inclination is to use God and not to love God, only frustrations in prayer can purge and purify our desires. Henri Nouwen captures the idea beautifully, “you must be patient…until your hands are completely open.” Perhaps God desires to give you exactly what you have asked for, but only in a time and way that the gift can truly benefit you instead of harming you.

xxx

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.  xxx

To read more about persistence in prayer, you might also want to check this article by Bob Stone.



And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

-Luke 11: 9, 10