Continue Steadfastly In Prayer

Posted on 06/06/2018 by goodnewsfromadistantland — Leave a comment

In Romans chapter 12, the apostle Paul gives a long list of virtues, attitudes, and practices to follow, for those who choose to follow Yahushua Messiah [the Hebrew name of Jesus Christ].

At the end of verse 12, Paul tells us one of the most important practices of those who desire to diligently love Yahushua Messiah, and to do what is pleasing in His sight:

Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; and continue steadfastly in prayer (Romans 12:12).

We are to “continue steadfastly” in prayer!

To be steadfast is to be without wavering.

To be steadfast is to do something with firm determination and resolution, regularly.

To be steadfast is to persevere and be persistent.

To be steadfast is to continue with repeating behaviour.

To be steadfast in prayer is to have a prayer life that is persistent, unwavering, and continuous, as Paul also admonishes in Ephesians:

Praying always, with all prayer and supplication, in the Spirit. With this in mind, watch, stay alert, with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints (Ephesians 6:18).

Sometimes it seems that continuously coming to the Father, repeating the same petitions, is wearisome and fruitless. We earnestly long for answers to our continuous pleading for our loved ones, yet we do not see instant answers. Our prayers seem to go unanswered. We begin to think that Father does not hear our prayers.

However, Messiah urges us to pray continuously, as we see in the story of the widow (Luke 18:1-8), whose “continual coming” resulted in answers to her petitions!!

The story of the widow’s continual coming illustrates the fruitfulness of our “continuing steadfastly in prayer”! The widow did not give up! Her repeated prayers were answered!

This reveals one of the secrets of prayer — that the widow’s prayers were answered because she did not give up!

Let us not give up in our prayers either!

Let us also make sure that we maintain a clean heart and a right spirit before Yahuwah [the Hebrew name for the LORD] (see Psalms 51). A clean heart is essential to our prayers being heard: If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me (Psalms 66:18).

When we maintain a clean heart, then we can be confident that God will attend to the voice of our prayers (Psalm 66:19-20).

So let us continue steadfastly in prayer, being persistent as King David, who said:

Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud:
and He shall hear my voice (Psalms 55:17)!

“Prevailing prayer is prayer that pushes through all difficulties and obstacles, drives back all the opposing forces of Satan, and secures the will of God. Prevailing prayer is prayer that not only takes the initiative but continues on the offensive for God until spiritual victory is won. It is prayer that is willing to believe and prevail for God’s answer in a situation that seems utterly impossible.” — Wesley L. Duewel

Our Prayers Are Infinitely Important!

Prayer is an intimate communication between us and our heavenly Father. Each one of us must be personally led by the Holy Spirit into that place of secret communion and connection with Yahuwah Elohim [the LORD God].

In whatever way we are led in our “continual coming” in prayer, let us remember that our prayers are infinitely important to Father! Consider also that someone wrestled in prayer on our behalf, before we came into God’s Family! Oh HalleluYah for those prayers!!!

Let us not be weary therefore, in our prayers, which are sacrificial labours (at times, agonizing labours) of LOVE — love for God and love for others.

Throughout the Scriptures we see example after example, of those who prayed continuously and fervently, and their prayers were answered:

Isaac: And Isaac prayed to Yahuwah [the LORD] for his wife, because she was barren. And Yahuwah granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived. (Genesis 25:21)

Moses: And Yahuwah [the LORD] spoke unto Moses face to face, as a man speaks unto his friend. And Moses turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle. (Exodus 33:11)

Hannah (the prophet Samuel’s mother): She [Hannah] was deeply distressed and prayed to Yahuwah [the LORD] and wept bitterly. (1Samuel 1:10)

King Manasseh: He [Manasseh] prayed to Him [Yahuwah], and God was moved by his entreaty and heard his plea and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that Yahuwah [the LORD] was God. (2Chronicles 33:13)

The Saints praying for Peter: Then, indeed, Peter was kept in prison. But earnest prayer was made to God for him, by the church (Acts 12:5)

Epaphras: Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Messiah, salutes you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. (Colossians 4:12)

For further encouragement in prayer, see Seven Prayers and Seven Answers.

“God loves ‘earnest, pleading’ prayer so much, that He will not give us much blessing without it.” — Adoniram Judson (1788-1850), American missionary to Burma

Oh help us Father!! – to remember to:

Pray without ceasing. (1Thessalonians 5:17)
Continue in prayer … with thanksgiving. (Colossains 4:2)
Be of a sound mind, sober, and watch unto prayer. (1Peter 4:7)
Always pray, and not give up!! (Luke 18:1)

Do not give up Dear Thirsty Soul!!

Be strong and of good courage, and continue steadfastly in prayer!

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We thank You Father, for Your Word, and for the strength of Your love to hold us close to You. We thank You for Your desire to fellowship with us in our secret prayer times. May we always rejoice in hope; being patient in affliction, and help us to continue steadfastly in prayer. In Yahushua Messiah’s name we pray. Amen.

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