1 Thessalonians 5:1, “Pray without ceasing.”
Very simply if you haven’t received an answer from God keep reminding Him that you are expecting an answer. Keep knocking until God opens the door or directs you to door number two. Two ways God answers us. The first is yes but in his timetable, not ours. We no doubt will receive our request in His good timing. The second is no but with the no He gives us another answer which is best for us.
2 Corinthians 12:8-9, “For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness, Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
We just keep asking and if God doesn’t grant the request, He will provide something better for us.
The needs we have and the command to keep asking keeps us in fellowship with God. If we didn’t need anything, I’m afraid we wouldn’t spend much time in prayer. Some people only pray in crisis situations, so God allows trouble to come in their lives, so they might return to him in prayer. The wise child of God recognizes his daily needs and approaches the throne room each day to request power, provision, and protection. So, we see persistent prayer is needed, because our heavenly Father so desires our fellowship.
When we keep on asking it allows His mind to merge with ours.
Philippians 2:5, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus:”
When we pray, more is going on than just putting in an order. When our heart believes in God’s Word we pray, which says, I have faith that produces hope. Hope orders us to action so by our will we obey the Word of God. Then we see good results because our mind is abiding in His Word and He in us.
John 15:7, “If ye abide me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”
God uses persistent prayer to merge His mind with us as we abide in Him. The abiding in Christ, we find is as enjoyable as answered prayer. Answers will come with persistent prayer but also, we will receive more faith, hope, and Christ likeness.
We have fine Bible examples that demonstrate to us the need to keep on asking.
Luke 11: 5- 8, “And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.”
Because perseverance and continual asking received. Don’t dismay and quit asking when at first you don’t succeed. In another portion of God’s Word, we see the same.
Luke 18:1-5, “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, there was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while : but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because of this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.”
God is looking for such faith today. Be sure God is a just judge who we do not weary with our continual coming to Him but is delighted to hear from us. Just remember we are to always pray without ceasing.
Anchor Baptist Church
456 Jamison Rd
Washington Court House, OH
(740) 333-7777
