Perseverance In Prayer September 15, 2015

Romans 12:10-13      Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;  rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.

John 13:34     "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

Philippians 2:3     Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,

1 Thessalonians 4:9     Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.

Hebrews 13:1     Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.

1 Peter 1:22     Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.

1 Peter 2:17     Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

As a pastor, I speak with many people about their spiritual journey. From these interactions, I know that most individuals are not satisfied with their prayer life. They lack anticipation and faith, and time with God often feels empty. This is, no doubt, why many Christians pray so little and so indifferently.

Yesterday, we began looking at obstacles to a healthy prayer life. Let’s explore one more hindrance to vibrant communication between God and us: impatience.

Most of us have at some point brought fervent supplication to Jesus but did not see the desired results. Unfortunately, humans are by nature faint-hearted. We get weary of asking when all we perceive is silence. Remember, though, that God does not act on our cue like some cosmic bellhop. If we could see the big picture as He can, we’d gladly wait for His way and timing.

The truth is, I believe we benefit by not receiving all that we request. To understand this concept is a sign of spiritual maturity. When we are thoroughly satisfied with the Lord’s presence, our relationship with Him will flourish, even when we don’t get everything we ask. When that’s the case, we grasp what prayer is—not a long list of wants, but regular communication in a relationship.

Barriers can develop if we persistently cry out to God and nothing changes. But by continuing to pray, we’ll both sense God’s presence beyond the “wall” and find peace, joy, and awesome glimpses of His glory. This will be completely satisfying, even if He never gives exactly what was requested.