Luke 18:1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.
“Perseverance” is persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.
Persistence in prayer is not an option – it is a necessity. “Always” means continuously, ceaselessly and conspicuously. Furthermore Philippians 4:6 says don’t be depressed or disheartened about anything but in everything and all situations pray and petition. Our first response, our only response and our continuous response must be prayer. God hears and honours persistent prayer.
Persistence plays a very important part while we are waiting for an answer. Waiting can make the heart grow weary but perseverance draws strength from “hope”. We will remain perseverant and tenacious only when our hope is rooted in God’s promise and His unfailing love. If not, while we are waiting, the reality of the situation, facts and figures or symptoms in our body will drain our hope and kill our faith. The Lord gives strength and power to those who travail and persevere. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak (Isaiah 40:29). Those who persevere are supernaturally strengthened and empowered.
Perseverance gives us spiritual wings to soar into the fourth dimension—the “faith realm,” or the supernatural realm. “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31). Hope in God’s promises is the soul-food that feeds our spirit-man to pray and petition persistently. It strengthens our hips, thigh muscles and calf muscles to climb higher and higher on the prayer mountain.
Hope is the soul food that nourishes perseverance:
- Hamstrings: Hamstrings behind our thighs help us to bend the knee and leg backwards. Perseverance is the spiritual hamstring that gives us the strength to bend our knees in prayer.
- Hip Flexors: Hip Flexors are muscles that help us to lift our knees forward. Perseverance is the spiritual hip flexor that helps us to move forward and upward on the mountain of prayer.
- Hope: Hope in the Lord is our soul-food that energizes and empowers us to preserve and travail in prayer. Perseverance draws energy from hope.
Hope in the Lord renews our strength to persevere.
Prayer: Dear Holy Spirit, energize me to persevere in prayer without ceasing. Amen.
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