Persistence Pays Off
When I was probably around 12 or 13 years old, I wanted something so badly that I got on my knees every night and prayed. I prayed hard. Pleading for my parents to change their mind and let me have what I wanted. Praying for God to make all the planets align so that what I wanted would be.
Persistent is defined as: Continuing firmly or obstinately in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition. Synonyms include: tenacious, persevering, determined, but also: purposeful, patient and assiduous.
God appreciates persistent prayer. Why? Well, many things happen when you pray persistently.
1. You call on Him. He looks forward to time with you. Focused, engaging, one-on-one time, just you and Him. Psalm 145:18
2. He longs for you to ask Him for all things. Matthew 21:22
3. It enables Him to work on your heart. Ephesians 1:17-21
Often what we think we want is not what's best for us. When we spend time praying, we open our heart and mind to conviction and conforming. As we pour out our wants and needs to God, we realize them aloud, and allow Him to begin His work in and through us. As this work is happening, we begin to realize the faults in our plan, His will for our life, the selfish asks we are wanting. And patience. By voicing our prayers again and again, we may allow events to play out in due time, where we would have messed up the whole plan had we had it "our" way from the get-go.
Even Jesus prayed persistently. Matthew 26:36-43, Mark 14:32-40, and of course Luke 22:42-44.
During my nightly, fervent praying in that time of my youth, I didn't realize that I was the one that needed a heart change, not my parents. They knew what was best for me. So did God.
Although it still amazes me that I had sought my parents permission in the first place, the fact that I did showed honor to them as well as to God. That's a commandment after all. However, it is not surprising that God took charge in my life, and I remember the lesson today. That was a turning point for me in my faith. When all was said and done, I was able to go back to my knees and thank God for NOT answering the way I wanted Him to. My prayers WERE answered, and I was blessed way more than I expected.
Psalm 37:3-6 "Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. (4) Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. (5) Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. (6) And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday."
BACF- "Put your trust in God. He will lead you though it, provide for you always. Find pleasure in doing what He puts on your heart to do and give Him the glory. Allow Him free reign of your heart and He will bless you."
