Day 10: Persistence in Specific Prayers
As you begin to spend time with God, settle yourself somewhere quiet and comfortable. Take a few deep breaths. Spend a few moments gathering your thoughts, becoming aware of God’s presence with you and in you.
Journal for 5 minutes on yesterday’s experiment of listening to God. What did you notice and learn? What challenged you? Did God say anything to you throughout the day?
Then, begin today’s devotional.
Read: Psalm 27: 14
“I have prayed for ______ a hundred times.”
“Maybe He is mad because of my past sins.”
“Maybe God’s answer is ‘No.’”
“I don’t have any more energy to keep praying about this.”
Do these phrases sound familiar? It’s easy to be harassed by doubts, fears, and unbelief when you pray and your request is unanswered. It’s an exhausting journey.
There is something in my life that I have prayed about for a prolonged period of time. Along the way, I realized I needed to wash my mind and soul richly with God’s words when I prayed, because my “enemy prowls around like a roaring lion,” waiting to attack me (1 Peter 5:8). It’s very important to manifest the promises of God during our persistent prayer journeys.
Before I prayed for my specific request, I started writing down Scriptures about God’s character and promises, declaring them with all my heart. Here are some examples:
“Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and He hears my voice.” (Psalm 55:17)
“His compassions never fail…The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him.” (Lamentations 3:22, 25)
“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)
“At the proper time we will reap a harvest, if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)
“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1)
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:23)
“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith…” (Hebrews 12:2)
Did God answer my prayer? Yes, after more than 20 years, He did—but not in the manner I expected. Through this long prayer journey, I learned to glorify God by choosing to trust His Sovereign will. He trained my faith to rest in His goodness and trust His loving hand, and He taught me to declare that my God, who did not spare His only Son, gives the perfect answer even when I don’t understand it.
Prayer: Lord, I join the prayers of my brothers and sisters who are reading this devotion. We earnestly seek You. Please help us to dwell in the shelter of the Most High and shield us with Your Word. Give us Your strength and teach us how to wait with a quiet spirit, to press on with courage, and to accept Your Sovereign way and timing. Amen.
Today’s Experiment: Are you discouraged or tired of praying about the same request? Then start searching His precious promises and focusing on them. Read aloud, write down, and memorize them until they stick to your soul. Choose one of the promises listed above and keep it front you today, repeating it often.
By Mizue Fells, Music Faculty