“One day George Mueller began praying for five of his friends. After many months, one of them came to the Lord. Ten years later, two others were converted. It took 25 years before the fourth man was saved. Mueller persevered in prayer until his death for the fifth friend, and throughout those 52 years he never gave up hoping that he would accept Christ! His faith was rewarded, for soon after Mueller’s funeral the last one was saved.”
Pray with conviction! Pray with perseverance!
I want you to think about something as we get started today. Conviction: Do you understand why our prayers are vital to the purposes of God? Do you now understand that God waits anxiously for us to pray? I can assure you He is restlessly pacing back and forth in throne room waiting for us to ask Him to move in our lives. To read more about praying with conviction read the previous post (click here). To read this series from the beginning (click here).
NEWS FLASH: God is slow!
In our fast paced, drive-up, disposable world we have become demanding of instant gratification. Just this week a young woman in my parenting group was honest enough to admit this; I want what I want, when I want it. If we are honest with ourselves we feel the same way most of the time.
Our God is slow, deliberate, and desires lasting change in us. Lasting change in our hearts develops in the hours, days, months, and years of persistent prayer. How do I know?
Let me tell you about 5,763 days. I have been praying the same prayer for 5,763 days. Fifteen years, ten months and thirteen days as of today, February 1, 2008. This is how long I have been praying for my husband’s salvation.
Do you think after all these years God failed to answer this prayer? My husband is not saved today. Well I can tell you without a doubt the Lord has answered this prayer over and again and will continue to provide answers and ultimately the salvation of my husband.
The Lord has answered this prayer by working through me. My persistent prayers have brought me to the throne room to plead for my husband’s salvation. My consistent prayers have grown my relationship with Him. God has worked out multiple impurities in me through the prayers for my husband’s conversion.
Much fruit has come from my persistence. My heart has softened, my character has been crafted in His likeness, I argue less, I don’t need to always be right. My desire for material things has decreased. Our marriage is the best it has ever been. I am happy and so is my family. And to top it all off, a ministry was born. God is so abundantly good!
Let me share with you how this actually works.
My Prayer Life through the Years:
Year One: Lord will you please save this man. He is driving me crazy. I want him to do this and I want him to do that but he just ignores me or argues. Lord, if you save him, I just know everything will be perfect for me.
Several Years Later: Lord, I ask for the salvation of my husband. I know his changed heart and my changed heart would allow us to get along better. Lord, I am very worried where my husband might live out eternity. Father, I ask you to bring about the circumstances to change him. Bring him to the cross.
Today: O Holy and Almighty Lord God, I approach your throne with Jesus by my side. I come before You seeking Your will so that I may know how to pray for my husband. Lord, I ask for my husband’s eternal life. I know that this request is within your will as Your word confirms Your desire that no man should perish. Lord, I ask You to pursue my husband with your relentless love. Please bring about a Holy Spirit conversion to change his whole heart that he may know you. Father, never allow me to get in the way or be a stumbling block. I ask this Lord by the power and blood of Jesus Christ, my Redeemer. Amen
I hope it is obvious the changes that occurred – that needed to occur – in my life. I had to get out of the way. My first prayers were uttered with a genuine pleading but they would only serve my self-centeredness. It would not serve God’s purposes. Do you know why? God had other plans for me such as a ministry to unequally yoked spouses. More important than anything, however, it the fact that the Lord wanted a changed heart. My changed heart. Heart change takes time and lots of it.
It is probable that you are stubborn just as I am and lessons from God’s classroom sometimes require much effort and even a repeat or two. So settle into your prayer life and realize the Lord has something to teach you about His will and something about your character. Most often God works with those who freely make themselves available and if you are praying God will work in you. It’s a promise.
One other note, most of my lessons from the Lord are only understood as I take them to God in prayer and ask for understanding.
The next logical question to follow is this. Knowing that we are praying for one thing and getting another doesn’t motivate us to pray with conviction does it?
This would be true except we have assurances in God’s word that He will answer. Our next segment will cover believing prayer. It is this kind of prayer, believing prayer, that I KNOW, without a doubt, my husband will be saved before he dies.
Now I want to leave with several scripture references regarding God’s timing and persistent prayer. Your assignment this week is to pick a single prayer that you have been praying for a long time and dedicate it to this process. I want you to write down the prayer in your daily bible on the page dated February 1, 2008 and the number of years, moths, days you have been praying this same prayer.
Also, time permitting read and understand the scriptures here. They are vital truths from God about how he works through our prayers. Priceless treasures.
Questions:
What specific prayer request have you been bringing to God for a long time?
Have you prayed persistently?
Have you seen glimpses of God in the answering of this prayer?
Finally, pick a new prayer request. Write it also on your bible and begin to pray for it consistently. I want to prove to you that the Lord will answer you. I will check in with you in fifteen years or so. *giggle*
2 Peter 3:8 (NLT)But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.
2 Peter 3:9 (NLT)
The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.
Luke 18:1-8 The Persistent Widow (click here) This is a fantastic example of persistence. By the way, Jesus, himself taught this parable.
Romans 12:11-12 (NIV)
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
The Lord God wants us to pray with persistence. He also wants us to pray within His will. Now that may be a bit trickier.
Next week: How do we know, without a doubt, we are praying within the will of God? It is possible to know.
I have so much more….. praying dangerous prayers, recognizing God’s answers, what do we say in prayer…… Keep on prayin’ The Lord is anxious to do great things! Be Blessed, Lynn
Leave a Reply