Dwight Fletcher | Effectual fervent prayer is persistent

WE’VE BEEN spending the last few weeks meditating on this powerful verse tucked into James. “The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].” (James 5:16b AMPC)

I don’t know about you, but there are some things I’m praying about right now that I want answered with a resounding yes. I want the tremendous power that is made available for believers. I want to live in the peace that comes with trusting God with all that concerns me.

If you do too, then this series is for you. I’ve been deliberately going through what this verse has to say about prayer, so we have a firm foundation to guide our times of prayer. In our first week, we explored the truth that effective prayer must be built on trust in God. We don’t subscribe to the belief that, ‘if it’s going to be, it is up to me’. Oh no. Tremendous power, far more than you have on your own, is available on the other side of prayer.

But too often this power doesn’t become available when we have a ‘one and done’ attitude toward prayer. So, today we’re discussing the next aspect of effective prayer.

Fervent prayer is persistent. When we say persistent, we mean that it is a deliberate act of our will that refuses to give up. However, some of us believe that we can pray one time about something and leave it. After all, God is not deaf, right?

Now, I wonder – where is the support for that belief in the word of God?

Look at what Elijah did in 1 Kings 18:41-45. After he defeated the prophets of Baal, he prayed for rain to return, and he had to press in. He had to be persistent. Seven times he prayed for it to happen before even a tiny cloud formed.

Jesus Himself spoke of persistent prayer! Luke 18:1 (NLT) says, “One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.” The parable was about the persistent widow who wanted justice from an unjust judge and her persistence persuaded him to give her what she asked. “ ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice…” Luke 18:4-5 (NIV)

Listen to Jesus’ commentary on this parable. “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?” (Luke 18:6-8 NLT)

Our attitude when it comes to prayer must be one of persistence. God considers it faith when we do so. However, we live in an age of instant gratification. We want it our way, right away. Yet, God builds our faith in the time of waiting and persistence.

Don’t get me wrong. The answer to some prayers are immediate, but many require an investment today with a later reward. Most prayers have delayed answers. Prayer has seasons and that requires much patience.

This is why the writer of Hebrews says, “We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” (Hebrews 6:12)

Are there some things you’ve stopped praying about after not getting a response? If you think what you want is the will of God, then, start praying again! And do not stop. Then, join us next week as we discuss the final aspect of effective prayer.

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