Over the past year, I’ve learned lessons about consistent prayer. I pray every day, and according to statistics, most of you do as well. But how do you stay motivated to keep praying when the answer doesn’t arrive? Even when answers don’t come, God will use consistent prayer to change you for the better.
Be…faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12 NIV
When we are faithful in prayer, God changes us through our prayers. Since last July, I’ve been praying every single day over a certain matter. Even though the formal answer has not yet arrived, I’ve changed so much over the course of these prayers.
When we are faithful in prayer, God changes us through our prayers. #prayer #praywithfaith Click To Tweet
The Beginning of My Consistent Prayer Journey
At the beginning of this prayer journey, I was filled with fear. Panic, actually. I did not understand what God was asking me to do. As I kept praying, he gave me more instruction. The more knowledge he shared with me through Scripture, prayer and the wise counsel of other Christians, the more peace I gained.
Last December, God used a Christian book to answer my prayers. I needed a specific answer regarding direction. I had won the book The Gift of Prophetic Encouragement in a blog contest last fall, and it was sitting on my massive to-read pile near my bed. One night while I was desperately praying for direction, God said, “Turn your head and look at that book.” I read it straight through that night.
The book’s message was custom-made for the direction I was seeking. Best of all, it was full of Scriptures that pointed me to God’s truth! The author’s words helped me replace fear with joy and hope. I’m so grateful God met my prayer request in such a practical way.
Consistent prayer can replace our fears with joy and hope. #prayer #joy #hope Click To Tweet
The Middle of My Consistent Prayer Journey
In the winter months, God helped me grow in trust and surrender through my prayers. I learned more information, and through a friend’s prompting, I asked God to test me. I even asked him to tell me No if a Yes answer would cause a problem I couldn’t envision in my life. When I surrendered the matter over to him, God not only affirmed the calling he had given me, but gave me even greater insight into how to proceed.
Lately I’ve been struggling with impatience and doubt. I’ve been praying for almost a year now with no visible answers. I have days where I feel restless and even irritable over this matter.
You moms know what month nine of your pregnancy feels like–you have great anticipation, but you’re also ready to get the whole thing over with, right? And yet, you know that great joy will replace all your discomfort when you see your baby for the first time. This is what I am looking forward to the most–the answer to months of waiting, and praising God for answering in whichever way he chooses.
God helps you grow in trust and surrender through consistent prayers. #prayer #faithful Click To Tweet
The Continuation of My Consistent Prayer Journey
I’m still praying over this matter, almost a year after God prompted me to start praying. This week I learned a new lesson from the book Life Changing Prayers. Dr. Youssef once prayed over a matter for 18 months with no answers in sight. The Holy Spirit told him to thank God during the waiting period, even though he couldn’t see the answers yet. Dr. Youssef thanked God in advance for the answers, basically in blind faith. Even though faith is my number one spiritual gift, God is asking me to do the same, and it’s stretching me. I’m sure once the matter is complete, I’ll rejoice that I thanked God even when I couldn’t see the answers.
Recently, I sat on my porch and reflected over my prayers during the past months. I can see how God grew my faith from the beginning to now. Even though I still don’t know when the answer will come, I am committing to daily prayer over the matter. It is helping me deepen my relationship with Jesus and trust him with surrendered faith.
We can thank God for future answers to prayer even before the answers arrive. #christianfaith #prayer Click To Tweet
Why Consistent Prayer Matters
If you are still waiting on an answer to your prayers, I encourage you to reflect on how God has changed you through the process of praying. He tells us to be faithful in prayer, not only because faithful prayer somehow brings about the answer, but because he wants to become more like Jesus while we wait.
Think through a timeline of your prayers over a situation that has been answered. Can you track the changes in your heart, mind, spirit and soul during that journey? How does this give you hope in a situation that has yet to be answered? Will you keep praying in faith that God will answer your prayers in his perfect timing?
Can you see evidence of spiritual growth during consistent prayer, friend? I hope that today, you can praise God for strengthening your faith and character while you have faithfully prayed.
Here’s a prayer to encourage you today:
Heavenly Father,
What an honor it is to converse with you in prayer!
I praise you for listening to every prayer I speak to you.
I confess that I struggle with being faithful in prayer.
It’s difficult to keep praying and not see results, month after month, year after year.
It’s easy to give up when I feel discouraged.
But you use the prayer process to strengthen my faith.
You use faithful prayer to make me more like your Son, and I want to pray more faithfully, Father.
Lord, you know the matters of my heart.
You know the prayer I most want to be answered.
I trust that as I faithfully pray, you will show me the answer.
Help me to accept whatever answer you provide and have faith that you have the very best in mind for me.
Remind me to praise you once I finally receive the answer, Lord.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Even when answers don't come, God will use consistent prayer to change you for the better. #prayer #faithfulprayer Click To Tweet
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