The Prayer of Persistent Patience

February 27, 2019/0 Comments/in Prayer /by Ricardo Newbold

Prayer

The Prayer of Persistent Patience

February 27, 2019
by Ricardo Newbold

Why does God require persistent patience when you pray? Truthfully. prayer can be one of the most difficult disciplines to do consistently and persistently. Yet, you’ve waited forever for God to answer your prayer, but nothing is happening.

Does God really expect you to keep on praying? One important analogy Jesus gave in reiterating the place, power and relevance of persistence in prayer is found in Luke 18:1. The opening verse has become a reference verse for many discussions on prayer.

The Persistent Widow

¹Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart: ²“In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected men. ³And there was a widow in that town who kept appealing to him, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’

⁴For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God or respect men, ⁵yet because this widow keeps pestering me, I will give her justice. Then she will stop wearing me out with her perpetual requests.’”

⁶And the Lord said, “Listen to the words of the unjust judge. ⁷Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He continue to defer their help? ⁸I tell you, He will promptly carry out justice on their behalf. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”

The text tells of God’s unwavering desire for His people to keep an unbroken, persistent, persevering prayer with Him. This noble demand, nonetheless, stands even in times of difficulties.

Difficulty Has A Purpose

For everyone of God’s children, God is intentional about all that happens to them. The nature and character of God do not accommodate accidents or coincidences.

Every event in the lives of those who love God serves a higher purpose. These include difficulties or hardships.

God has always employed difficulties to strengthen the character of His children, and to invite them into deeper relationships with Him. God’s chastisement is an expression of His great love for us, for the scripture rightly says

“For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” (Hebrews 12:6, ESV)

So, difficulty serves the purpose of love – God loving us. This show of love is to develop in us godly character. By it we are conformed to the image of Christ. It is like pruning a flower; though its many leaves may be trimmed off, the flower becomes more beautiful after the exercise.

The writer of Hebrews writes that God disciplines us for our good. Though the process produces momentary pain, later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:3-11, ESV).

If we arm ourselves with this truth, going through difficult times would come with much ease, and clear purpose.

Persistent Prayer – God at the Center

Prayer is cardinal in every believer’s life. It is one way Christians express their dependence on God. It is one means of deepening and strengthening our relationship with the triune God.

Because prayer is a relationship between God and man, it is expedient that the Christian devotes his/her attention to God. He desires wholehearted worship.

Thus, an efficient prayer is one which revolves around the character, majesty, power, glory and beauty of God.

An efficient prayer keeps God within its gaze. It starts with God, continues with Him and ends in Him. A prayer that perseveres is fixated on God, and not on the difficulty.

Such prayer reinforces God’s ability above the seeming power of the difficulty. A prayer such as this is sustained by the power of the Holy Spirit. Hence, the praying Christian is able to be patient, and persevere. It is this kind of prayer that overcomes difficult situations.

Persistent Patience – The Character of Overcomers

The story of the persistent widow reinforces the power of perseverance – persistent patience. Perseverance is a patience that is persistent, that does not give up or give in.

The widow’s situation was quite difficult. She was requesting an action which is alien to the godless judge. It’s akin to demanding justice from an unjust king. Hers was a difficult situation – she was helpless, and had, as last resort to justice, a judge who had no fear of God.

With her perseverance, the seemingly impossible situation turned out possible. The hardhearted judge could not withstand the power of her never-say-die spirit.

She was aware of what she was up against, yet she persevered. She persisted in her quest for justice. She kept knocking on the door. Though helpless, this widow received justice.

How difficult is your present situation? Jesus, in his usual signature parable, has taught us to not faint nor grow weary in prayers while in the midst of difficulty.

Winners don’t quit! Overcomers don’t give up on God. Perseverance is the character of overcomers. Hear Jesus’ consolatory remark:

“7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily.” (Luke 18:7-8a, ESV).

Wrapping Up

Have you become weary in prayers? Does it seem like you’re at the end of your rope? Is there such thing as praying too much? No! There’s no such thing as praying too much.

Prayer is often our last resort, the final step in a hopeless situation. We refer to it with such phrases as “he doesn’t have a prayer,” or “there is nothing left to do but pray.”

I encourage you to remain persistent in your prayers even when you don’t get an answer! Why? Persistent prayer focuses your attention. Persistent prayer clarifies your request. Persistent prayer tests your faith. Persistent prayer prepares your heart for the answer.

Hang on in there!

Don’t quit yet. Keep praying to God (remember He loves you). Be patient. Persevere. The God you’re praying to said He’ll give you justice speedily.

He does not lie. Trust Him. Remember, “God can do much, much more than anything we can ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20)

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Reclaiming Your Spiritual Passion

February 25, 2019/0 Comments/in Christian Life /by Ricardo Newbold

Christian Life

Reclaiming Your Spiritual Passion

February 25, 2019
by Ricardo Newbold

Are you satisfied with your spiritual passion for God and your relationship with Him? Have you ever wondered why does your spiritual passion fade so easily? When we first experience God’s love, we spend hours thinking about Him and studying His Word. So, what do you need to change so that He remains your primary focus in life?

The story of the people of Israel during the reign of the Judges typifies the undulating, rising-and-falling spiritual state of many believers today. From the yearning for self-acceptance and admiration, to the raving quest for knowledge and information, today’s Christians have several things jostling for their attention and desires.

Like the Israelites of old, the problems of divided devotion to God (in times of difficulties) and romance with pleasurable sin lie firmly at the root of our spiritual doldrums.

The Ever-Burning Fire

“The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest is to add firewood and arrange the burnt offering on the fire and burn the fat of the fellowship offerings on it. The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out.” Lev 6:12-13 (NIV)

God, in giving instructions to Moses for the Old Covenant, was, at the same time, pointing us to a time in the New Covenant. A shadow of what is to come in Christ Jesus, who is the mediator of the New Covenant.

Let us take a cursory look at key parts of this important instruction given to Moses, and how it applies to believers in this dispensation.

“The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out…”

The first thing we see here is that the fire be kept burning. God intends that our passion and love for him be nurtured endlessly. Our passion for God, demonstrated in obedience, consecration, worship and service, should not wane in its intensity.

The Christian’s passion – thirst, hunger, love, desire – for God should continually consume every other interest. It should burn out every self-focused admiration and ambition. It should consume all that inhibit God’s love in our hearts.

God wants our spiritual passions to devour every self-promoting desire. The instruction that was given to Moses thousands of years ago still holds true for us today. Our fire – passion, love, hunger, thirst for – God must be kept burning.

Our Spiritual Reality

How do we really develop a spiritual passion for God ? Though it is God’s plan that we are continually spiritually alive to Him, our reality is everything short of this. We are not always on fire, burning with this holy fervor for God.

Many times we are spiritually weary and exhausted. Believers, on many occasions, are held bound in the valley of self-gratifying desires. How do we come out of here? How does this reality of always-on-fire-for-God become our spiritual reality?

In addressing this problem God told Moses:

“Every morning the priest is to add firewood”

One of the devils greatest devices is to tempt Christians to lose their passion for serving God. The devil will try to deceive you, deaden you or devour you and if none of these work he will settle for discouraging you.

So, what does it mean for us in the dispensation of the New Covenant, to add firewood to the fire? Paul’s instruction to the Church of Ephesus comes very helpful for us who desire to reclaim our spiritual passion and keep our passions aflame for God. Here’s what Paul said:

“¹⁰Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. ¹¹Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:10-11, ESV)

To be strong in the Lord is to depend on God – His nature, power, word – to withstand the arrows of Satan. It is counting on God’s power through our spiritual disciplines of prayer, study of God’s word, meditation, faith, and obedience.

It’s is relying on the Holy Spirit to daily deal a death blow to the flesh and its activities in our lives.

Faith in God (a God-focused faith) is key to reliving our spiritual passion. Faith that is anchored on the infallibility of God – His Character, authority, power, word – is a fuel for our spiritual passion. It is the wood that burns our fire.

“…and arrange the burnt offerings on it.”

As in Paul’s admonition in Romans chapter 12:1, we must offer the parts of our bodies as living sacrifice, whose sinful desires are being consumed by the Holy Spirit.

In consequence, our spiritual passion is strengthened and made alive again. Then our spiritual passion produces good works with sweet aroma, pleasing to the Lord.

Jesus Christ didn’t mince words while discussing this matter: “And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. (Luke 9:23, ESV)

Let him deny himself

A burning spiritual passion has at its root – denying self of its gratifications. We must deny ourselves of activities that empower the sinful nature.

And take up his cross daily

The cross is a symbol of death, but for the Christian it is both a symbol of death and victory – death to power of the sinful nature and victory for the Christian over sin. To carry the cross daily is allowing the death-dealing power of the cross over the sinful nature.

And follow me

Following Jesus is a never-ending duty of every believer who desires an ever-burning spiritual passion. We follow Jesus when we model our lives – thoughts, works, actions, and decisions – after Him (as revealed in His Word).

A man or woman who follows Jesus has the biblical worldview. Christ is ultimate in all decisions not any human.

Recover Your Spiritual Passion

As we do all these, we must continually be examining ourselves in God’s light. The psalmist, David, prayed this important prayer in Psalm 139:23-24

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”

In clearer terms, this implies being vulnerable and open before God. Paul, in a similar fashion, admonishes us, saying “Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves.”

Following Jesus is a matter of faith (in God) from start to finish – including our spiritual passion. Faith, which produces obedient works, opens us up to the ocean of God’s grace, and thus keeps us perpetually passionate for Him.

Our appetite for God is whetted. Our hope strengthened. And our gaze fixated on the One who matters. These principles, when practiced in a God-dependent relationship, offers us a leeway out of our lethargic spiritual state.