We were driving somewhere once and the DVD player that our son Levi watches was making a weird noise. His older brother Isaac pipes up from beside him and says, “I’m going to take that thing and throw it to heaven and get Jesus to fix it.” We were rolling in laughter. The thing is we should do this with our problems. We should send them to heaven in the form of prayer.
How often do we underestimate the power of prayer? I’d like to explore the subject of prayer for a moment. Let’s look in the Word of God.
In Luke 18 we see the parable of the unjust judge.
Luke 18:1-6 WEB 1 He also spoke a parable to them that they must always pray and not give up, 2 saying, “There was a judge in a certain city who didn’t fear God and didn’t respect man. 3 A widow was in that city, and she often came to him, saying, ‘Defend me from my adversary!’ 4 He wouldn’t for a while; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow bothers me, I will defend her, or else she will wear me out by her continual coming.’” 6 The Lord said, “Listen to what the unrighteous judge says.
Then another parable in Luke 11 about the friend coming at midnight.
Luke 11:5-10 WEB 5 He said to them, “Which of you, if you go to a friend at midnight and tell him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6 for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him,’ 7 and he from within will answer and say, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give it to you’? 8 I tell you, although he will not rise and give it to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence, he will get up and give him as many as he needs. 9 “I tell you, keep asking, and it will be given you. Keep seeking, and you will find. Keep knocking, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened.
Did you notice the similarity? Persistence! Yes, persistence is key to prayer. We must keep asking, keep knocking, keep seeking. We can’t let time wear us out. The widow kept coming to the unjust judge over time. We can’t let inconvenience wear us out. The friend came at an inconvenient time. They both though came with persistence. They kept asking, knocking, and seeking.
Many people feel like their prayers may not even be effective. This is a tactic of the enemy in order to cause us to pray less. Because the enemy understands the power of our prayers. Don’t you think if the enemy is telling you that your prayers aren’t doing anything that it is a clear indication that they are?
We read in James 5:16 KJV The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
The word fervent here can be described as passionate, earnest, and sincere, emphasizing the importance of genuine and heartfelt prayer. We often think because our prayers may not be on fire that they aren’t effective. If they are sincere and from the heart then that is fervent.
As another translation says. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective (James 5:16 WEB).
Be insistent or as previously stated persistent in prayer. No matter the circumstances, no matter how long, no matter how we feel. We must keep praying. As Jesus said we must always pray and not give up (Luke 18:1 WEB).
So don’t believe the lies of the enemy. Keep believing and don’t stop praying.
Exodus 30:7-8 KJV 7 And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it. 8 And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations.
Psalm 141:2 KJV Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
The offering of incense is a symbol of prayer. Don’t you think that Aaron felt sometimes like the incense never left the room? To make it to the top of the tabernacle through the ceiling up to heaven. In the natural maybe it doesn’t make sense. Aaron would probably recall what God said in Exodus 25:8 KJV And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. Which meant as soon as Aaron lit the incense it was in God’s presence.
Just like now you may feel like your prayers aren’t even reaching the ceiling. We must remember that it says in Romans 8:9 WEB But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. And if God dwells in us then we are His temple as it says in 2 Corinthians 6:16 KJV ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Understanding that we are the temple of God then we should recall Isaiah 65:24 KJV And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. Just like when Aaron lit the incense it was immediately in God’s presence. When we call on Him our prayers are immediately in His presence.
Aaron also was to burn incense in the morning and in the evening, it was supposed to be a perpetual incense. It doesn’t say unless he didn’t feel like it. No, it was to be continual.
We should pray in the morning, the evening and continually throughout our day. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints (Ephesians 6:18 KJV). We should be instant in prayer (Romans 12:12 KJV). This should be our first response to any situation is to instantly pray.
When it’s taking a long time to get your answer, keep praying. When you get discouraged, keep praying. When you don’t feel like it, keep praying. Don’t stop praying.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV Pray without ceasing.
Psalm 55:17 KJV Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
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