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How to Be Persistent in Prayer

The Bible instructed the believers of God not just to pray, but to pray unceasingly and persistently (Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Colossians 4:2 and Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17). We know that some things we pray for are not answered right away. Only God knows the perfect reasons for His timing, and sometimes a spiritual battle might be involved that transcends our knowledge. That is why you need to be consistent and persistent in your prayers until you fully receive in physical form that for which you are praying. Jesus even said that when you believe you have already received what you’ve been praying for, you shall have it (Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. Mark 11:24). It takes faith in Christ Jesus for all your prayers to be answered.

So, how can you be persistent in prayer? To begin with, don’t give up and don’t stop praying. Be consistent in your prayers until you get what you are asking God for, given that your prayers are according to the will of God and His Word. When you want something so badly, you should not give up halfway. You should instead keep up with the fight until you achieve what you want or desire. It’s the same with prayers. Some prayers take time. The longer it takes, the greater the result might be when God finally grants it. God knows His timing, and His ways are perfect. You have to trust Him with all your heart, mind, and soul. It is how you become persistent in your prayer. You know that God is faithful in fulfilling His promises, and He won’t let you down. Even if it takes a long time for God to answer your prayers, keep on praying and never give up hope.

Moreover, you can’t be persistent in your prayer if you are not one hundred percent sold or going all out for whatever you are praying for, which may include extra effort on your part to do what it takes to get you there or receive it. For instance, if you are aiming to get into a position in a job or finish your master’s degree, to graduate, to get pregnant or anything else, you may pray unceasingly, and at the same time, you work hard and passionately, showing excellent skills, studying hard, focusing on your studies, making love to your spouse, taking the medical exams and screenings needed to get pregnant, and so on. To be persistent in prayer, you must ask yourself, “What am I praying for, why am I praying for it, and how much do I want this?” When you’ve determined your answers, you don’t even have to force yourself to be persistent. You will naturally do it, like a child asking his parents to buy a certain toy. He will keep asking for it until they eventually give in.

Heavenly Father, praise Your wonderful name.

How to Be Persistent in Prayer

 

Heavenly Father, praise Your wonderful name.

How to Be Persistent in Prayer

 

Heavenly Father, praise Your wonderful name.

How to Be Persistent in Prayer

What does God say about being persistent?

In the Bible, Jesus Christ showed and taught His disciples what it looks like to be persistent. He told them a parable about a poor woman who wanted justice from an unjust judge (see Luke 18:1-8). She repeatedly came to the judge, who wouldn’t listen to her, but because she was persistent and the judge didn’t want to see her again, he finally gave in to the widow’s persistence and granted what she wanted. Jesus’ main reason for telling His disciples this parable was to encourage them to keep praying and not give up. God wants us to keep praying for what we hope for and never give up.

Here are more Bible verses about being persistent in our walk with God:

1. Galatians 6:9

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Heavenly Father, praise Your wonderful name.

How to Be Persistent in Prayer

2. Proverbs 24:16

For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

Heavenly Father, praise Your wonderful name.

How to Be Persistent in Prayer

3. Ephesians 6:18

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Heavenly Father, praise Your wonderful name.

How to Be Persistent in Prayer

4. Colossians 4:2

Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

Heavenly Father, praise Your wonderful name.

How to Be Persistent in Prayer

5. Philippians 4:6-7

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

6. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

16 Rejoice evermore.

17 Pray without ceasing.

18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Heavenly Father, praise Your wonderful name.

How to Be Persistent in Prayer

7. Luke 18:1

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

Heavenly Father, praise Your wonderful name.

How to Be Persistent in Prayer

8. Hebrews 12:1-3

1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

 God would not instruct His people to be persistent in prayer if He wasn’t also persistent. He does not easily give up on us, even when we are unloving and unfaithful. He remains the same. He leaves the ninety-nine sheep just to find the one who is lost on its way. Even in the face of betrayal, God’s mercy and kindness persisted. When Peter denied Jesus three times, God did not give up on Peter. Instead, He empowered him, gave him new strength, and made him one of the most powerful Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ.

God’s love, grace, and mercy are persevering, unwavering, and faithful. He created us in His own image and likeness, which are the qualities of the true sons and daughters of God.

You are not faint-hearted, and you always persevere in everything you do, so long as you put your faith and hope in the Lord Jesus Christ, who gives you strength. You must not easily give up in prayer and deed because you are confident in Him, who is faithful and true to His Word.

Why must I keep praying persistently?

As mentioned earlier, some prayers take time. If your prayers aren’t answered right away, it doesn’t mean that God’s answer is no. Sometimes, you have to contend in prayers, wrestle with God, keep believing, and put up a good fight of faith. Praying can sometimes look and feel like a boxing match. You might never know that you are fighting a spiritual opponent who doesn’t want to see your breakthrough, doesn’t want you blessed, and wants to keep you and your family in bondage. To win in the ring, you have to keep punching and punching until your opponent gets knocked out. Some things we pray for are like that. It requires fighting, contending, and maintaining unwavering faith in God’s faithfulness.

All the people in the Bible were persistent in their prayers. The Apostle Paul was persistent in praying for the Churches. All the Old Testament prophets were persistent in their prayer life and their journey with God, even if they never got to see Jesus Christ, the Messiah, in their timeline. Even so, but God answered, salvation came for mankind, and man became God’s dwelling place. Great things take time. When Joseph had a dream about his life in the future, God didn’t answer him right away. He had to undergo painful struggles, betrayals, and experiences in order to be renewed in character, prepared mentally, spiritually, and emotionally when the time came for him to be the ruler of Egypt. Eventually, he did. He perfectly handled his responsibilities, emotionally and mentally prepared to meet his brothers who betrayed him, and displayed love, forgiveness, and compassion, which he learned during the process of his painful journey.

God doesn’t want you to be destroyed by being unprepared when you receive what you have been persistently praying for. He knows that they are great prayers and need great preparation, persistence, stability, and most of all, unwavering faith and connection with God, even after He has answered your prayers. Sometimes, when people receive what they prayed for, they stop communicating with God, they start to devalue what they asked God for, and even forget who they are along the way. However, when you have invested prayers followed by commitments, plus the struggle and pain along the way, it becomes memorable. The moment God answers your prayers, you know the value of his response because you’ve been through a lot, and will cherish whatever it is for which you are persistently praying.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, be persistent in your prayers, and someday, you will understand God’s perspective and reasons for things. You’ll be so blessed by it, and God will be glorified in your life.

Here is a prayer for persistence in your walk with God:

Heavenly Father, praise Your wonderful name. Your Word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. Thank You for Your Word, which keeps me persistent in my walk with You. You teach me Your ways and uncover the truths of Your Word so that I may walk in them. I know that the Holy Spirit in me gives me power and strength to not give up, and to fix my eyes on Jesus in all seasons of my life, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Heavenly Father, praise Your wonderful name.

How to Be Persistent in Prayer

 

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