How desperate are we for God to work? Desperate enough to
pray through the night? Desperate enough to wrestle in fasting and prayer until
we see the breakthrough come? Desperate enough to take drastic measures to
receive His blessing?
“We love a good night’s sleep, but
sleepless nights are what define our lives. If you’re going to bring kings to
their knees or shut the mouths of lions, sometimes you need to pull an
all-nighter. I’m more and more convinced that the biggest difference between
success and failure, both spiritually and occupationally, is your waking up
time on your alarm clock. If you snooze, you lose. But if you pray through, God
will come through as surely as the sun will rise.”[i]
As you look at the mighty prayer warriors through history,
like Luther, Knox, Wesley, Finney, Evans, Praying Hyde and so many others, what
is the difference between their prayers and the casual prayers so often prayed
today? The difference is they refused to give up until the answer came. As prayer
author, E.M Bounds teaches, “God does not bestow His gifts on the casual or
hasty comers and goers. Much time with God alone is the secret of knowing Him
and of influence with Him.”[ii]
“How long were the disciples to
tarry in Jerusalem? ‘Until you have been clothed with power from on high.’
(Luke 24:49) How long did Moses keep his hands raised to God in prayer? Until
Amalek was totally defeated. (Ex. 17:13) How long did Joshua hold out his
javelin toward Ai while the enemy attacked? Until Ai was destroyed (Josh. 8:26)
How long did Elijah stay on his knees in prevailing prayer after three years’
drought? Until rain clouds formed in the sky. (1st Kings 18:44) How long did
Jesus pray in Gethsemane? Until Satan was defeated. How long did the disciples
continue in prayer in the Upper Room? Until the Holy Spirit came upon them. No
matter what our prayer request, if God has led us to pray for a need that we
believe is the will of God, how long should we pray? Until the answer comes.”[iii]
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