PRAY FOR.....PERSEVERANCE

....and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us (Romans 5:2b-5).
Perseverance and Persistence are not the same thing. In everyday, whether you and I think Biblically or not, these two actions carry completely different meanings and results. Persistence is an action with a goal in mind to achieve.  If we had a project to complete, whether it is meeting a sales quota for XYZ Widgets (or in 2016 – for Essential Oils) we would persist through normal working hours and even breaks and lunch to get the job done. Persistence is a commitment and sticking with, in our case here – intense prayer, praise and supplication.

Perseverance on the other hand, is getting through difficulty without losing your focus, your character, your testimony and your relationship – first with God and then with those around you. Persistent prayer will bolster your faith and draw you and I closer to the Flame, the Consuming Fire of God, while Perseverance will use that  Faith, buttressed by prayer to see us through our circumstance. Persistent Prayer will enable us to praise God in the storms of life, so we can persevere and make it through even stronger than when we began the journey through the dark valley of life’s troubles.

The verse above has to be taken in the order as the Holy Spirit instructed the writing of the Oracles of God. But catch this amazing statement in Romans 5:3 which comes just after the Apostle writes that we rejoice in Hope of the Glory of God (Verse 2b). He does something which is antithetical to weak modernistic thinking.  God says through Paul that “we also glory in Tribulations”!  This is not what the corrupt western culture and its psychology of prosperity teaches us! Who in their right mind will “glory in tribulations”? We should! It takes a lot of Godly gumption to be like Job. Here he is –  all his children died. He  lost everything and then got violently ill. His wife tells him to curse God and die. Yet, Job declares “though He slay me, I will trust in Him”! (Job 13:15)

Looking at verses 3 and 4 again, we see that these same trials, hard times and terrible circumstances and Tribulations (from health to financial and relational) lead to Character. However, we are not getting from experiencing the trials and tribulations of life to being a person of solid Christian character WITHOUT Perseverance! This is as plain as the black and white ink the pages of the Book of Romans. The rest of the blessings from the Godly Character which result from Perseverance – Hope and Joy, will be null and void if we do not stand strong in the face of adversity.

Do not believe the untruths of the New Age and/or the Prosperity Gospel that Christians are not supposed to get sick or have hard times.  It was the Suffering Savior Himself – Jesus – Who said “in this world you will have troubles, but behold, I have overcome the World”.  Our Creator, Lord and Savior has not just overcome the world but He has taken the sting out of death and offered joy which can never be taken away – if we persevere.

So how do we walk this out? How do we persevere. First of all, we cannot – at least NOT on our own! Second, we can only persevere in His Strength, His Power and His Love, under the umbrella of His Grace. Third, we MUST pray our way through this, standing on the following Scripture “He (God) only is my rock and my salvation, my Stronghold; I shall not be shaken (Psalm 62:6).

Heavenly Father, we can only make it through the storms, trials and tribulations of life, if we grow into the Mindset of Jesus Christ, Who for the joy set before Him, endured the Cross and not despising the pain, persecution and shame, yet He persevered to sit next to You in Glory for all time. Lord, while we are weak in body and a lot of times, weak in resolve and even Faith, help us oh God. Please help us. We believe. Help our unbelief. Help us not to be distracted by the injustice, pain, ungodliness and worse we see around us, which increases in intensity...sometimes even unbearable intensity. Lord, we can do nothing without Christ Who strengthen us, therefore in this time of Trial and Tribulation, first help us to have Your mindset, Your perspective through the pain and trouble and loss so that we may persevere and endure through it all. We know sometimes Your answer is now, and we have to move on, or we may lose everything, but this endurance which You have enabled in us will strengthen our Christian integrity and Character and draw us even closer to the Flame, to love, serve, adore, magnify, lift up and bless Your Holy Name, through Jesus Christ our Great God, King, Redeemer and Friend Who led Job to proclaim "though You slay me, I will trust in You". May this be our refrain. Amen

(Photo Credit Here)

PRAY FOR.....PERSISTENCE

Jesus said that we, Christians, should pray to the Father “In My Name” is so much that whatever we asked, will be granted unto us.  He also said, we have not because we ask not. Prayer is the only means by which we can communicate with our great God in Heaven and the Savior. We are doubly blessed among all people in that our Savior – Jesus Christ – also intercedes for us. Now, wrap your mind around that for a second: the Creator of untold galaxies; the human body and everything that lives and breathes – prays for us! (Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them - Hebrews 7:25).

One of the most important qualities the Messiah imputed and embedded in us, is the ability to persist, press on, press forward and stay glued to Him, in prayer. Notice, He gave us the ability. For some reason, most do not access this part of the spiritual brain, choosing instead to let others pray for them when the chips are down.  But we should – God has not given us a spirit of fear but the ability to defeat it and conquer through prayer. He does want us to persist in our prayer and worship life – DAILY.

Jesus gave us an example of persistence here in Luke 18:1-5: “Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, 2 saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. 3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ 4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’”

So how does this look, on the ground –where the rubber meets the road? How do we persist in prayer when we, as a people,  hardly ever pray because of culture, wealth or  whatever?  From personal experience,  Persistence in Prayer begins with Fasting.  Jesus did not do away with Fasting in the New Testament and in fact, in His Great Sermon on the Mount,  He explained Fasting as a given (i.e. “When you fast”  …three times - click link here to read ).  He also rebuked His own disciples who were unable to cast the demon out of a man’s son in Mark telling them that this type of divine victory can only be accomplished by fasting!

But what does fasting have to do with anything? In essence, it reminds me of discipleship on steroids. Jesus told us that unless we are willing to take up our Cross and follow Him (i.e. deny ourselves and our worldly desires) we cannot be His disciples. Fasting is a proactive step in denying our physical wants and needs for a day or two per month, or for as long as you wish. It is saying, in our spirits to the Lord,  “Lord, I desire You more than that sirloin steak or chocolate ice cream after a cheese burger. Lord, I want to put aside the desires of the flesh today, so I can pursue a closer walk with You, in spirit and in truth….a closer walk which will set me on a path in the pursuit of a more powerful prayer life. Lord, I believe, help me in my unbelief and help me to press on and press in and forge ahead, just like the woman and the unjust judge in Your Parable, in Jesus’ Name amen”.

The Lord will not despise such a prayer, such an action or such longing for holiness even if we are new at this process of Fasting. Some may say they are medically unable to go without food for more than 4 hours etc. This is fine. Consult a doctor and see if a vegetable diet once a week will harm you. I use vegetable broth which is found in small containers in the organic aisle of the local grocery store. Nothing fancy.  The main idea is to give up something of earthly value, then to come to the Lord humbly with a repentant heart, and your bible, then to sit, pray, persist and worship and press on in His Presence.

Persistence in Prayer is very important if you and I are the only ones praying for a certain matter, concerning another person,  issue or condition. We stick with it and travail along in prayer until the Holy Spirit sends Word from heaven that we can stop praying now for this or that person or issue, because the answer is at hand.  We never let go until such time. However, this point is never attained to, unless we first understand the starting point – coming to the Throne of Grace completely in pursuit of His Presence and Power in our Prayer.
Amen

Therefore Father, in the Mighty Name of Jesus, I surrender myself at the Altar of Christ to be taught by You, just how I can lay a hold of what You have already pre-destined for me.  I desire knowing all there is about You and the Lord Jesus Christ and I pray for release from my bondage of self, sin and smugness so I can humbly yet boldly see You through prayer and fasting and supplication. Lord, please strengthen my ability to first start on the path to persistent and travailing prayer and to stay that course, no matter what the distractions and disappointments in life.  Lord, I pray  You take the focus of my heart, mind body and soul away from the mundane things of life this very day, and reorient me into the foundation of Prayer, so that I may flow naturally into the stream of sweet fellowship with You, according to Thy Will and Thy Purpose, in Jesus’ Name amen.

(Photo Credit Here)