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There are many examples of persistent “prayers”
in the Bible:
• Hannah prayed year after year for children (1 Samuel).
• For 3 1/2 years, Elijah prayed earnestly that it
would not rain (1 Kings 17-18, James 5:17-18).
• Most of David's Psalms request God's protection
and help against his enemies.
• Paul prayed constantly for new Christians and churches
(Ephesians 6:18) His encouragement was: “Always be
joyful.
Therefore, never stop praying. Whatever happens, give thanks,
because it is God’s will in Christ Jesus that you
do this.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-19) Let's look at
an Old Testament example and two New Testament examples
of people who were persistent in praying the same prayer
and making the same request of God, over and over again.
In Genesis 18:16-33, God told Abraham that he was going
to utterly destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham
begged God not to destroy the righteous with the evil. He
asked God to spare the cities for 50 righteous people and
God agreed. Then Abraham asked even more -- would God spare
them for 45 righteous people? Again God agreed. Abraham
continued to beg for 40 . . . 30 . . . 20 . . . and finally
for just 10 people. And God was influenced by Abraham's
persistence -- and agreed.
What a bold, courageous prayer Abraham was! Not only did
he continue to ask the Lord the same request -- to spare
the righteous -- but he “raised the stakes”
each time by asking more and more of God -- to spare the
cities' destruction for as few as 10 people.
In the New Testament, Jesus told two parables “to
show them that they need to pray all the time and never
give up.” (Luke 18:1). One involved a man who had
unexpected guests and asked for bread from his neighbor
at midnight (Luke 11:5-10). The second parable tells how
a widow continually sought justice from a judge (Luke 18:1-8).
In both cases, the friend and the judge gave the individuals
what they wanted because of their nagging and pestering.
The man and woman would not take “no” for an
answer!
Jesus Himself says we should “nag” God with
our deep desires. It's like a sick man who passes by a hospital
one day and tells the doctor, "I feel really bad".
If he does not get healed after medication, does he not
return; or else seek medication elsewhere? The same applies
to prayer. One exception is that in case of prayer, God
is almighty and all sufficient while you may change doctors
for they may differ in expertise. Remember that you are
“in dialogue” with your Father who loves you.
God is influenced by your desire and dedication; He is willing
to listen and His mind can be changed by your persistent
prayers.
Source:
(My Orthodox Prayer Book)
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